SHAKESPEARE'S 



The 

Merchant of Venice 



With Introduction and Notes 

BY 

MARGARET A. EATON, B. A. 



EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING COMPANY 

BOSTON 
New York Chicago San Francisco 



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Copyright, 1909 

BY 

EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING COMPANY 



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CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Introduction 5 

Dramatis Personae . . . . . 12 

The Merchant of Venice . . . 13 

Notes 103 




ACT IV. SCENE I. 



Ad. Schmite, 



INTRODUCTION 



CHIEF FACTS OF SHAKESPEARE'S LIFE. 

The date of Shakespeare's birth is not known, but, 
according to tradition, he was born April 23, 1564, in 
the town of Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, England. 
Very little is known with certainty concerning his life, 
and he tells us less about himself in his work than almost 
any other writer. 

His father was a well-to-do tradesman and his mother 
was Mary Arden, who had a small estate in land. Their 
son William was sent to the grammar school of Stratford, 
where he received a fair education, although hardly of 
such a kind as his plays would lead us to suppose. He 
may have learned a little law from his uncle, who was a 
lawyer in the town, but we know next to nothing about 
his youthful days. 

Shortly after his marriage to Anne Hathaway he is 
said to have been reprimanded for poaching on the 
estate of Sir Thomas Lucy, an episode which he after- 
ward immortalized, and this fact, with his father's loss 
of fortune, induced him to set out for London to make 
his own way in life. 

Possibly he may have seen some of the plays and 
pageants given at Kenilworth Castle during his boyhood, 
and cherished a secret liking for the stage. At all events, 
he soon found friends among the London actors and 
before long became an actor himself and the proprietor 
of a theatre in Biackfriars. 

His fame as a playwright soon eclipsed his reputation 

5 



6 INTRODUCTION 

as an actor, and he seemed equally great in tragedy, 
comedy, or historical drama. During his life in London 
he produced about thirty-six plays, of which the following 
are the chief: 

Tragedies: Hamlet, Macbeth, Lear, Othello, Romeo 
and Juliet. 

Comedies: Tempest, Merchant of Venice, Midsummer 
Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, As You Like It, Much 
Ado About Nothing, The Winter's Tale, Cymbeline. 

Historical: Henry VI., Richard II., Richard III., 
Henry IV., Henry V., Henry VIII. , Coriolanus, Julius 
Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra. 

He also wrote two long poems and some of the most 
beautiful sonnets in the language. 

In 1610 he returned to his native town, where he lived 
until his death six years later. His grave is in Trinity 
Church, Stratford-on-Avon. 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

The Merchant of Venice was first printed in 1600,. 
when it appeared by itself in two quarto editions, one, 
called the First Quarto, published by James Roberts, 
the other, the Second Quarto, by Thomas Heyes. 

It is quite certain that the play was not written later 
than the end of the year 1597, for in July, 1598, it was 
entered in the Stationers' Register, under the name of 
"a booke of the Marchaunt of Venyce or otherwise 
called the Jewe of Venice." 

Shakespeare seldom invented his plots. He usually 
took some story which he had heard or read, or which he 
had seen represented on the stage, and made that the foun- 
dation of his wonderful work as we know it. Students of 
Shakespeare have found that the two stories, that of the 
pound of flesh, and the story of the caskets, were widely 
popular, and that they occur again and again in slightly 



INTRODUCTION 7 

different forms in European and in Oriental literature. 
The sources from which Shakespeare is believed to have 
obtained the stories of The Merchant of Venice are as 
follows: 

An old play called The lew and Ptolome, in which 
two stories showing "the greediness of worldly chusers 
and bloody mindes of usurers" are combined. 

The Adventures of Giannetto, from a collection of tales 
called // Pecorone, by Giovanni Fiorentino, published 
at Milan in 1558. This gave Shakespeare the story of 
the bond, the name of Portia's house, the plan which 
Portia invented for freeing the merchant, and the incident 
of the ring in the fifth act. 

A translation of the Gesta Romanorum, which gave 
the story of the caskets. 

The Ballad of Gernutus, an old poem from which 
Shakespeare perhaps got the incident of Shylock's whet- 
ting the knife. 

Silvayn's Orator, in which is an argument about a 
Jew "who would for his debt have a pound of the flesh 
of a Christian." 



CRITICAL COMMENTS 

The Merchant of Venice is remarkable for the ingenuity 
with which the different stories are combined to form 
a natural and harmonious plot. The story of the bond, 
which is so serious and almost tragic, is lightened by 
Portia's love story, and by the subordinate stories of 
Gratiana and Nerissa, and Lorenzo and Jessica. All 
the incidents bear directly and naturally on the denoue- 
ment or "winding-up" of the play, and on the develop- 
ment of the principal characters, with the exception of 
the merely comic business, and of the scenes in which 
the Princes of Morocco and Arragon make their choice 
of the caskets. These scenes — which introduce two 
characters as it seems unnecessarily, but which clear the 



8 INTRODUCTION 

way for Bassanio's successful choice — are always 
omitted when the play is performed, but they are the 
occasion of some fine poetry. 

The question has been raised whether Shakespeare 
had any particular purpose in writing this delightful 
play. If he had, it was probably to protest against the 
uncharitableness with which the Jews were still treated 
in his day. In England they were despised and looked 
on as inferior beings, in foreign countries they were 
bitterly persecuted. The play teaches, therefore, les- 
sons of charity which may be summed up in the beauti- 
ful speech of Portia in the trial scene. Another lesson 
that has been suggested as running right through the 
play is the sacredness of promises, which underlies the 
mock reproaches and the pretty teasing of the last act. 

Though the play takes its name from Antonio, Shylock 
is the central character, and on him Shakespeare spent 
his whole strength. At the opening of the play we see 
in him a grasping money-lender, who bitterly hates the 
Christian merchant, on many grounds: First, because 
he has gentle and conciliating manners ("How like a 
fawning publican he looks!" Act I., Scene III., 35); 
second, because he is a Christian; third, because he 
lends out money gratis, and has done his best to injure 
the Jew's business; fourth, because he shows such 
bitter and persistent contempt for the Jewish nation. 
It is this last reason most of all which explains the Jew's 
cruel device for obtaining his revenge. He has a pride 
in his race which gives dignity to his character, and his 
powerful and eloquent pleas on behalf of his despised 
race produce a feeling of sympathy for him in spite of 
his detestable cruelty. And he is not a monster entirely 
without human feelings. He loves his daughter, though 
perhaps not so much as his ducats; and when he hears 
that she has given his rare turquoise ring in exchange 
for a monkey, he shows that he valued it chiefly because 
it was a present from bis wife before their marriage. In 
the trial scene, when his cruel scheme has recoiled on 
his own head, and he is a broken-hearted, ruined man, 



INTRODUCTION 9 

we see that his punishment is no greater than he deserved, 
but even now we feel some pity for him. 

After Shylock, Portia is the most important character. 
Full of spirit, of happy innocent playfulness, and of every 
personal ami mental attraction, she has a bold and fear- 
less mind that does not shrink from actions which might 
be regarded by some people as scarcely "proper." As 
soon as she knows that her husband's friend is in danger, 
she promptly and unselfishly makes up her mind to save 
him (although she might plead that he is nothing to 
her), and to part with her husband for a time, though 
she is only just married to him. Though she dresses 
as a man her conduct is in no way unwomanly. On the 
contrary 7 , when she appears as a lawyer in court, she en- 
deavors to dissuade Shylock from his revenge by appeal- 
ing, as a woman would, to his feelings, to his reason, to 
his better nature. It is only when the milder course has 
failed that she becomes seemingly hard and relentless, 
and makes use of a legal quibble with which Bellario 
has primed her in order to effect her purpose. Her 
woman's nature is clearly shown by her exclamation 
when the duke exempts Shylock from the fine of half his 
goods to the state. "Not for Antonio," she says; that 
is, the other half must come to Antonio. She is not there 
confessedly as Antonio's advocate, but as an impartial 
judge; but she is evidently keenly looking after the 
interests of her husband's friend. 

Antonio takes little active part in the play. He has 
only some 180 lines to speak, and yet we seem to know 
a good deal of his character. We learn much from what 
is said about him by his friends and by Shylock. Bas- 
sanio says he is 

" The kindest man, 

The best condition'd and unwearied spirit 

In doing courtesies." 

Salerino says — 
" A kinder gentleman treads not the earth." 



io INTRODUCTION 

Shylock tells us that in guilelessness of heart he lends 
money gratis. He is a generous, unselfish man, ready 
to do anything for his friend, into whose love story he 
enters quite sympathetically. He is unsuspicious of 
Shylock's designs against himself, but when the blow 
falls, he is patient in suffering, and when he sees nothing 
but death before him, he resigns himself courageously 
to his fate, only desiring that his last moments may be 
cheered by the presence of his friend. Even against 
Shylock, to whom in his prosperity he was, to say the 
least, ungenerous, he seems to feel no malice when in his 
power. But Antonio has his great fault, that of un- 
charitableness towards the Jewish race, in which, how- 
ever, he is only like the actual men of Shakespeare s 
time. "To everyone else he is a model of a true gentle- 
man and a perfect Christian; but to Shylock he is 
rude, contemptuous, morally cruel, and sometimes even 
mean." 

The other characters are of less importance, though 
all are admirably portrayed. Bassanio is a frank, rash, 
thoughtless, extravagant man; warm-hearted and loyal 
to his friends; quick-witted enough to suspect Shylock's 
good intentions, but not strong enough to refuse outright 
his consent to the bond; what people would call a 
thoroughly good fellow, but with no great distinction 
of character. To use a familiar expression, Portia is 
certainly the better half. Gratiano is a chatterer, al- 
ways laughing and jesting, and yet contriving to say 
some very sensible things. His taunts against Shylock 
when things are turning against him at the trial seem like 
hitting a man when he is down, but Gratiano was one of 
those people who cannot help joking, and who do not 
mean all they say. The parts of Nerissa, Lorenzo, 
Jessica, Salarino, and Salanio, are very slight, but Shake- 
speare's genius is admirably shown in them, and in the 
small character of Tubal, the Jew who knows so well 
Shylock's weak points and so amusingly plays on them. 
The purely comic element is well provided by Launcelot 
Gobbo and his father, the former of whom persistently 



INTRODUCTION n 

misuses words and wilfully misunderstands the words 
of others. 

The serious action of the play closes with the trial 
scene, but by the incident of the rings Shakespeare in- 
geniously contrives to carry on the spectator's interest 
to the end. " Throughout the whole conduct of the 
play, what may be called its tragic portion has been 
relieved by the romance which belongs to the personal 
fate of Portia. But after the great business of the drama 
is wound up, we fall back upon a repose which is truly 
refreshing and harmonious. From the lips of Lorenzo 
and Jessica, as they sit in the 'paler day' of an Italian 
moon, are breathed the lighter strains of the most play- 
ful poetry, mingled with the highest flights of the most 
elevated. Music and the odors of sweet flowers are around 
them. Happiness is in their heart. Their thoughts are 
lifted by the beauties of the earth above the earth . . . 
And then come the affectionate welcomes, the pretty 
pouting contests, and the happy explanations of Portia 
and Nerissa with Bassanio and Gratiano. We are 
removed into a sphere where the calamities of for- 
tune, and the injustice of man warring against man, 
may be forgotten. The poor merchant is once more 
happy." — Charles Knight. 



DRAMATIS PERSONS 

The Duke of Venice. 

The Prince of Morocco, ) ^ (0 Porda 

The Prince of Arragon, j 

Antonio, a Merchant of Venice. 

Bassanio, his kinsman, suitor likewise to Portia. 

Salanio, *) 

Salarino, [ ffiends Antonio and Bassanio. 

Gratiano, I 

Salerio, J 

Lorenzo, in love with Jessica. 

Shylock, a rich Jew. 

Tubal, a Jew, his friend. 

Launcelot Gobbo, the Clown, servant to Shylock. 

Old Gobbo, father to Launcelot. 

Leonardo, servant to Bassanio. 

Balthasar, ) servants por(ia] 

Stephano, j 

Portia, a rich heiress. 

Nerissa, her waiting-maid. 

Jessica, daughter to Shylock. 

Magnificoes of Venice, Officers of the Court of 
Justice, Gaoler, Servants to Portia, and other 
Attendants. 

Scene: Partly at Venice and partly at Belmont, the 
seat of Portia, on the Continent. 



The Merchant of Venice 



ACT I. 

Scene I. Venice. A 
Enter Antonio, Salarino, and Salanio. 

Ant. In sooth, I know not why I am so sad: 
It wearies me; you say it wearies you; 
But how I caught it, found it, or came by it, 
What stuff 'tis made of, whereof it is born, 
I am to learn; 5 

And such a want-wit sadness makes of me 
That I have much ado to know myself. 

Salar. Your mind is tossing on the ocean: 
There, where your argosies with portly sail, 
Like signiors and rich burghers on the flood, ftj 
Or, as it were, the pageants of the sea, 
Do overpeer the petty traffickers, 
That curtsy to them, do them reverence, 
As they fly by them with their woven wings. 

Salan. Believe me, sir, had I such venture forth^ 
The better part of my affections would 16 

Be with my hopes abroad. I should be still 
Plucking the grass, to know where sits the wind, 
Peering in maps for ports and piers and roads; 
And every object that might make me fear 20 

Misfortune to my ventures out of doubt 
13 



i 4 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

Would make me sad. 

Solar. My wind cooling my broth 

Would blow me to an ague, when I thought 
What harm a wind too great at sea might do. 
I should not see the sandy hour-glass run, 25 

But I should think of shallows and of flats, 
And see my wealthy Andrew dock'd in sand, 
Vailing her high-top lower than her ribs 
To kiss her burial. Should I go to church 
And see the holy edifice of stone, 30 

And not bethink me straight of dangerous rocks, 
Which touching but my gentle vessel's side, 
Would scatter all her spices on the stream, 
Enrobe the roaring waters with my silks, 
And, in a word, but even now worth this, 35 

And now worth nothing ? Shall I have the thought 
To think on this, and shall I lack the thought 
That such a thing bechanced would make me sad? 
But tell not me; I know, Antonio 
Is sad to think upon his merchandise. 40 

Ant. Believe me, no : I thank my fortune for it, 
My ventures are not in one bottom trusted, 
Nor to one place; nor is my whole estate 
Upon the fortune of this present year: 
Therefore my merchandise makes me not sad. 45 

Salar. Why, then you are in love. 

Ant. Fie, fie! 

Salar. Not in love neither ? Then let us say you 
are sad, 
Because you are not merry: and 'twere as easy 
For you to laugh and leap and say you are merry, 
Because you are not sad. Now, by two-headed 
Janus, 50 

Nature hath framed strange fellows in her time: 
Some that will evermore peep through their eyes 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 15 

And laugh like parrots at a bag-piper, 

And other of such vinegar aspect 

That they '11 not show their teeth in way of smile, 5 5 

Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable. 

Enter Bassanio, Lorenzo, and Gratiano. 

Salan. Here comes Bassanio, your most noble 
kinsman, 
Gratiano and Lorenzo. Fare ye well: 
We leave you now with better company. 

Salar. I would have stay'd till I had made you 
merry, 60 

If worthier friends had not prevented me. 

Ant. Your worth is very dear in my regard. 
I take it, your own business calls on you 
And you embrace the occasion to depart. 

Salar. Good morrow, my good lords. 65 

Bass. Good signiors both, when shall we laugh? 
say, when? 
You grow exceeding strange: must it be so? 

Salar. We '11 make our leisures to attend on yours. 
[Exeunt Salarino and Salanio. 

Lor. My Lord Bassanio, since you have found 
Antonio, 
We two will leave you: but at dinner-time, 70 

I pray you, have in mind where we must meet. 

Bass. I will not fail you. 

Gra. You look not well, Signior Antonio; 
You have too much respect upon the world: 
They lose it that do buy it with much care: 75 

Believe me, you are marvellously changed. 

Ant. I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano ; 
A stage where every man must play his part, 
And mine a sad one. 



1 6 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

Gra. Let me play the fool: 

With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come, So 
And let my liver rather heat with wine 
Than my heart cool with mortifying groans. 
Why should a man, whose blood is warm within, 
Sit like his grandsire cut in alabaster? 
Sleep when he wakes and creep into the jaundice 85 
By being peevish ? I tell thee what, Antonio — 
I love thee, and it is my love that speaks — 
There are a sort of men whose visages 
Do cream and mantle like a standing pond. 
And do a wilful stillness entertain, 90 

With purpose to be dress'd in an opinion 
Of wisdom, gravity, profound conceit, 
As who should say "I am Sir Oracle, 
And when I ope my lips let no dog bark!" 

my Antonio, I do know of these 95 
That therefore only are reputed wise 

For saying nothing, when, I am very sure, 

If they should speak, would almost damn those ears 

Which, hearing them, would call their brothers fools. 

I'll tell thee more of this another time: 100 

But fish not, with this melancholy bait, 

For this fool gudgeon, this opinion. 

Come, good Lorenzo. Fare ye well awhile: 

1 '11 end my exhortation after dinner. 

Lor. Well, we will leave you then till dinner-time : 
I must be one of these same dumb wise men, 106 
For Gratiano never lets me speak. 

Gra. Well, keep me company but two years moe, 
Thou shalt not know the sound of thine own tongue. 

Ant. Farewell: I'll grow a talker for this gear. 

Gra. Thanks, i' faith, for silence is only com- 
mendable 1 1 1 
In a neat's tongue dried. 

[Exeunt Gratiano and Lorenzo. 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 17 

Ant. Is that any thing now ? 

Bass. Gratiano speaks an infinite deal of nothing, 
more than any man in all Venice. His reasons are 
as two grains of wheat hid in two bushels of chaff: 
you shall seek all day ere you find them, and when 
you have them, they are not worth the search. 

Ant. Well, tell me now what lady is the same 
To whom you swore a secret pilgrimage, 120 

That you to-day promised to tell me of? 

Bass. 'Tis not unknown to you, Antonio, 
How much I have disabled mine estate, 
By something showing a more swelling port 
Then my faint means would grant continuance : 125 
Nor do I now make moan to be abridged 
From such a noble rate; but my chief care 
Is to come fairly off from the great debts 
Wherein my time something too prodigal 
Hath left me gaged. To you, Antonio, 130 

I owe the most, in money and in love, 
And from your love I have a warranty 
To unburden all my plots and purposes 
How to get clear of all the debts I owe. 

Ant. I pray you, good Bassanio, let me know it; 
And if it stand, as you yourself still do, 136 

Within the eye of honor, be assured, 
My purse, my person, my extremest means. 
Lie all unlock'd to your occasions. 

Bass. In my school-days, when I had lost one 
shaft 140 

I shot his fellow of the self-same flight 
The self-same way, with more advised watch, 
To find the other forth, and by adventuring both 
I oft found both: I urge this childhood proof, 
Because what follows is pure innocence. 145 

I owe you much, and, like a wilful youth, 



18 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

That which I owe is lost; but if you please 

To shoot another arrow that self way 

Which you did shoot the first, J do not doubt, 

As I will watch the aim, or to find both 150 

Or bring your latter hazard back again 

And thankfully rest debtor for the first. 

Ant. You know me well, and herein spend but 
time 
To wind about my love with circumstance; 
And out of doubt you do me now more wrong 155 
In making question of my uttermost 
Than if you had made waste of all I have: 
Then do but say to me what I should do 
That in your knowledge may by me be done, 
And I am prest unto it: therefore speak. 160 

Bass. In Belmont is a lady richly left; 
And she is fair and, fairer than that word, 
Of wondrous virtues: sometimes from her eyes 
I did receive fair speechless messages: 
Her name is Portia, nothing undervalued 165 

To Cato's daughter, Brutus' Portia: 
Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth, 
For the four winds blow in from every coast 
Renowned suitors, and her sunny locks 
Hang on her temples like a golden fleece; 170 

Which makes her seat of Belmont Colchos' strand, 
And many Jasons come in quest of her. 

my Antonio, had I but the means 
To hold a rival place with one of them, 

1 have a mind presages me such thrift, 175 
That I should questionless be fortunate! 

Ant. Thou know'st that all my fortunes are at sea ; 
Neither have I money nor commodity 
To raise a present sum: therefore go forth; 
Try what my credit can in Venice do: 180 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 19 

That shall be rack'd, even to the uttermost, 
To furnish thee to Belmont, to fair Portia. 
Go, presently inquire, and so will I, 
Where money is, and I no question make 
To have it of my trust or for my sake. 185 

[Exeunt. 



Scene II. Belmont. A room in Portia's house. 
Enter Portia and Nerissa. 

Por. By my troth, Nerissa, my little body is 
aweary of this great world. 

Ner. You would be, sweet madam, if your mis- 
eries were in the same abundance as your good for- 
tunes are: and yet, for aught I see, they are as sick 
that surfeit with too much as they that starve with 
nothing. It is no mean happiness therefore, to be 
seated in the mean: superfluity comes sooner by 
white hairs, but competency lives longer. 

Por. Good sentences and well pronounced. 10 

Ner. They would be better, if well followed. 

Por. If to do were as easy as to know what were 
good to do, chapels had been churches and poor men's 
cottages princes' palaces. It is a good divine that 
follows his own instructions: I can easier teach 
twenty what were good to be done, than be one of 
the twenty to follow mine own teaching. The brain 
may devise laws for the blood, but a hot temper leaps 
o'er a cold decree: such a hare is madness the youth, 
to skip o'er the meshes of good counsel the cripple. 
But this reasoning is not in the fashion to choose me 
a husband. O me, the word "choose"! I may 
neither choose whom I would nor refuse whom I 



:>o THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

dislike; so is the will of a living daughter curbed by 
the will of a dead father. Is it not hard, Nerissa, 
that I cannot choose one nor refuse none? 26 

Ner. Your father was ever virtuous; and holy 
men at their death have good inspirations: therefore 
the lottery, that he hath devised in these three chests 
of gold, silver and lead, whereof who chooses his 
meaning chooses you, will, no doubt, never be chosen 
by any rightly but one who you shall rightly love. 
But what warmth is there in your affection towards 
any of these princely suitors that are already come ? 

Por. I pray thee, over-name them; and as thou 
namest them, I will describe them; and, according 
to my description, level at my affection. 37 

Ner. First, there is the Neapolitan prince. 

Por. Ay, that's a colt indeed, for he doth nothing 
but talk of his horse; and he makes it a great ap- 
propriation to his own good parts, that he can shoe 
him himself. 

Ner. Then there is the County Palatine. as 

Por. He doth nothing but frown, as who should 
say "If you will not have me, choose:" he hears 
merry tales and smiles not: I fear he will prove the 
weeping philosopher when he grows old, being 
full of unmannerly sadness in his youth. I had 
rather be married to a death's head with a bone in 
his mouth than to either of these. God defend me 
from these two! 51 

Ner. How say you by the French lord, Monsieur 
Le Bon ? 

Por. God made him, and therefore let him pass 
for a man. In truth, I know it is a sin to be a 
mocker: but, he! why, he hath a horse better than 
the Neapolitan's, a better bad habit of frowning than 
the Count Palatine; he is every man in no man; if 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 21 

a throstle sing, he falls straight a capering: he will 
fence with his own shadow: if I should marry him, I 
should marry twenty husbands. If he would despise 
me, I would forgive him, for if he love me to madness, 
I shall never requite him. 

Ner. What say you then to Falconbridge, the 
young baron of England? 65 

Par. You know I say nothing to Mm, for he 
understands not me, nor I him: he hath neither 
Latin, French, nor Italian; and you will come into 
the court and swear that I have a poor pennyworth 
in the English. He is a proper man's picture, but, 
alas, who can converse with a dumbshow? How 
oddly he is suited! I think he bought his doublet in 
Italy, his round hose in France, his bonnet in Ger- 
many and his behavior everywhere. 

Ner. What think you of the Scottish lord, his 
neighbor? 76 

Par 1 That he hath a neighborly charity in him, 
for he borrowed a box of the ear of the Englishman 
and swore he would pay him again when he was 
able : I think the Frenchman became his surety and 
sealed under for another. • 81 

Ner. How like you the young German, the Duke 
of Saxony's nephew ? 

Par. Very vilely in the morning, when he is sober, 
and most vilely in the afternoon, when he is drunk : 
when he is best, he is a little worse than a man, and 
when he is worst, he is little better than a beast: an 
the worst fall that ever fell, I hope I shall make shift 
to go without him. 89 

Ner. If he should offer to choose, and choose the 
right casket, you should refuse to perform your 
father's will, if you should refuse to accept him. 

Par. Therefore, for fear of the worst, I pray thee, 



22 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

set a deep glass of Rhenish wine on the contrary 
casket, for if the devil be within and that temptation 
without, I know he will choose it. I will do any 
thing, Nerissa, ere I'll be married to a sponge. 97 

Ner. You need not fear, lady, the having any of 
these lords: they have acquainted me with their 
determinations; which is indeed to return to their 
home and to trouble you with no more suit, unless 
you may be won by some other sort than your 
father's imposition, depending on the caskets. 103 

Por. If I live to be as old as Sibylla, I will die as 
chaste as Diana, unless I be obtained by the manner 
of my father's will. I am glad this parcel of wooers 
are so reasonable, for there is not one among them 
but I dote on his very absence, and I pray God grant 
them a fair departure. 109 

Ner. Do you not remember, lady, in your father's 
time, a Venetian, a scholar and a soldier, that came 
hither in company of the Marquis of Montferrat ? 

Por. Yes, yes, it was Bassanio; as I think, he 
was so called. 114 

Ner. True, madam: he, of all the men that ever 
my foolish eyes looked upon, was the best deserving 
a fair lady. 

Por. I remember him well, and I remember him 
worthy of thy praise. 

Enter a Serving- man. 

How now! what news? 120 

Serv. The four strangers seek for you, madam, 
to take their leave: and there is a forerunner come 
from a fifth, the Prince of Morocco, who brings 
word the prince his master will be here to-night. 1 2 4 
Por. If I could bid the fifth welcome with so 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 23 

good a heart as I can bid the other four farewell, I 
should be glad of his approach: if he have the con- 
dition of a saint and the complexion of a devil, I 
had rather he should shrive me than wive me. 
Come, Nerissa. Sirrah, go before. 130 

Whiles we shut the gates upon one wooer, another 
knocks at the door. [Exeunt. 



Scene III. Venice. A public place. 
Enter Bassanio and Shylock. 

Shy. Three thousand ducats; well. 

Bass. Ay, sir, for three months. 

Shy. For three months; well. 

Bass. For the which, as I told you, Antonio shall 
be bound. 5 

Shy. Antonio shall become bound; well. 

Bass. May you stead me ? will you pleasure me ? 
shall I know your answer? 

Shy. Three thousand ducats, for three months, 
and Antonio bound. 10 

Bass. Your answer to that? 

Shy. Antonio is a good man. 

Bass. Have you heard any imputation to the 
contrary ? 

Shy. O, no, no, no, no: my meaning in saying 
he is' a good man is to have you understand me that 
he is sufficient. Yet his means are in supposition; 
he hath an argosy bound to Tripolis, another to the 
Indies; I understand, moreover, upon the Rialto, he 
hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for England, and 
other ventures he hath, squandered abroad. But 
ships are but boards, sailors but men: there be land- 



24 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

rats and water-rats, land-thieves and water-thieves, 
I mean pirates, and then there is the peril of waters, 
winds and rocks. The man is, notwithstanding, 
sufficient. Three thousand ducats; I think I may 
take his bond. 

Bass. Be assured you may. 

Shy. I will be assured I may; and, that I may be 
assured, I will bethink me. May I speak with 
Antonio ? 3 1 

Bass. If it please you to dine with us. 

Shy. Yes, to smell pork; to eat of the habitation 
which your prophet the Xazarite conjured the devil 
into. I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with 
you, walk with you, and so following, but I will not 
eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. 
What news on the Rialto ? Who is he comes here ? 

Enter Antonio. 

Bass. This is Signior Antonio. 

Shy. [Aside.] How like a fawning publican he 
looks! 4 c 

I hate him for he is a Christian, 
But more for that in low simplicity 
He lends out money gratis and brings dowa 
The rate of usance here with us in Venice. 
If I can catch him once upon the hip, 45 

I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him 
He hates our sacred nation, and he rails 
Even there where merchants most do congregate. 
On me, my bargains and my well-won thrift, 
Which he calls interest. Cursed be my tribe, 50 
If I forgive him! 

Bass. Shylock, do you hear? 

Shy. I am debating of my present store, 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 25 

And, by the near guess of my memory, 

I cannot instantly raise up the gross 

Of full three thousand ducats. What of that? 55 

Tubal, a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe, 

Will furnish me. But soft! how many months 

Do you desire? [To Ant.] Rest you fair, good 

signior; 
Your worship was the last man in our mouths. 

Ant. Shylock, although I neither lend nor borrow 
By taking nor by giving of excess, 61 

Yet, to supply the ripe wants of my friend, 
I '11 break a custom. Is he yet possess 'd 
How much ye would? 

Sky. Ay, ay, three thousand ducats. 

Ant. And for three months. 65 

Shy. I had forgot ; three months; you told me so. 
Well then, your bond ; and let me see ; but hear you ; 
Methought you said you neither lend nor borrow 
Upon advantage. 

Ant. I do never use it. 

Shy. When Jacob grazed his uncle La ban's 
sheep — 70 

This Jacob from our holy Abram was, 
As his wise mother wrought in his behalf, 
The third possessor; ay, he was the third — 

Ant. And what of him ? did he take interest ? 

Shy. No, not take interest, not, as you would say, 
Directly interest: mark what Jacob did 76 

When Laban and himself were compromised 
That all the eanlings which were streak'd and pied 
Should fall as Jacob's hire. 

This was a way to thrive, and he was blest: 80 

And thrift is blessing, if men steal it not. 

Ant. This was a venture, sir, that Jacob served 
for; 



2 6 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

A thing not in his power to bring to pass, 
But sway'd and fashion'd by the hand of heaven. 
Was this inserted to make interest good? 85 

Or is your gold and silver ewes and rams? 

Shy. I cannot tell; I make it breed as fast: 
But note me, signior. 

Ant. Mark you this, Bassanio, 

The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. 
An evil soul producing holy witness 90 

Is like a villain with a smiling cheek, 
A goodly apple rotten at the heart: 
O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath! 

Shy. Three thousand ducats; 'tis a good round 
sum. Three months from twelve; then, let me see; 
the rate — 96 

Ant. Well, Shylock, shall we be beholding to 
you? 

Shy. Signior Antonio, many a time and oft 
In the Rialto you have rated me 
About my moneys and my usances: 100 

Still have I borne it with a patient shrug, 
For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe. 
You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog, 
And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine, 
And all for use of that which is mine own. 105 

Well then, it now appears you need my help: 
Go to, then; you come to me, and you say 
"Shylock, we would have moneys:" you say so; 
You, that did void your rheum upon my beard 
And foot me as you spurn a stranger cur no 

Over your threshold: moneys is your suit. 
What should I say to you ? Should I not say 
"Hath a dog money? is it possible 
A cur can lend three thousand ducats?" Or 
Shall I bend low and in a bondsman's key, 115 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 27 

With bated breath and whispering humbleness, 

Say this: 

"Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last; 

You spurn'd me such a day; another time 

You calPd me dog; and for these courtesies 120 

I '11 lend you thus much moneys ? " 

Ant. I am as like to call thee so again, 
To spit on thee again, to spurn thee too. 
If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not 
As to thy friends; for when did friendship take 125 
A breed for barren metal of his friend ? 
But lend it rather to thine enemy, 
Who if he break, thou mayst with better face 
Exact the penalty. 

Shy. Why, look you, how you storm! 

I would be friends with you and have your love, 1 30 
Forget the shames that you have stain'd me with, 
Supply your present wants and take no doit 
Of usance for my moneys, and you '11 not hear me: 
This is kind I offer. 

Bass. This were kindness. 

Shy. This kindness will I show. 135 

Go with me to a notary, seal me there 
Your single bond; and, in a merry sport, 
If you repay me not on such a day, 
In such a place, such sum or sums as are 
Express'd in the condition, let the forfeit 140 

Be nominated for an equal pound 
Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken 
In what part of your body pleaseth me. 

Ant. Content, i' faith: I'll seal to such a bond 
And say there is much kindness in the Jew. 145 

Bass. You shall not seal to such a bond for me: 
I'd rather dwell in my necessity. 

Ant. Why, fear not, man; I will not forfeit it: 



28 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

Within these two months, that 's a month before 
This bond expires, I do expect return 150 

Of thrice three times the value of this bond. 

Shy. O father Abram, what these Christians are, 
Whose own hard dealings teaches them suspect 
The thoughts of others! Pray you, tell me this; 
If he should break his day, what should I gain 1 5 5 
By the exaction of the forfeiture? 
A pound of man's flesh taken from a man 
Is not so estimable, profitable neither, 
As flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats. I say, 
To buy his favor, I extend this friendship: 160 

If he will take it, so; if not, adieu; 
And, for my love, I pray you wrong me not. 

Ant. Yes, Shylock, I will seal unto this bond. 

Shy. Then meet me forthwith at the notary's; 
Give him direction for this merry bond, 165 

And I will go and purse the ducats straight, 
See to my house, left in the fearful guard 
Of an unthrifty knave, and presently 
I will be with you. 

Ant. Hie thee, gentle Jew. 

[Exit Shw 
The Hebrew will turn Christian : he grows kind. 1 70 

Bass. I like not fair terms and a villain's mind. 

Ant. Come on: in this there can be no dismay; 
My ships come home a month before the day. 

[Exeunt. 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 29 

ACT II. 

Scene I. Belmont. A room in Portia's house. 

Flourish of cornets. Enter the Prince of Morocco 
and his train; Portia, Nerissa, and others 
attending. 

Mor. Mislike me not for ray complexion, 
The shadow'd livery of the burnish'd sun, 
To whom I am a neighbor and near bred. 
Bring me the fairest creature northward born, 
Where Phoebus' fire scarce thaws the icicles, 5 

And let us make incision for your love, 
To prove whose blood is reddest, his or mine. 
I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine 
Hath fear'd the valiant: by my love, I swear 
The best-regarded virgins of our clime 10 

Have loved it too : I would not change this hue, 
Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen. 

Por. In terms of choice I am not solely led 
By nice direction of a maiden's eyes; 
Besides, the lottery of my destiny 15 

Bars me the right of voluntary choosing: 
But if my father had not scanted me, 
And hedged me by his wit, to yield myself 
His wife who wins me by that means I told you, 
Yourself, renowned prince, then stood as fair 20 
As any corner I have look'd on yet 
For my affection. 

Mor. Even for that I thank you: 

Therefore, I pray you, lead me to the caskets 
To try my fortune. By this scimitar, 
That slew the Sophy and a Persian prince 25 



3 o THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

That won three fields of Sultan Solyman, 
I would cutstare the sternest eyes that look, 
Outbrave the heart most daring on the earth, 
Pluck the young sucking cubs from the she-bear, 
Yea, mock the lion when he roars for prey, 30 

To win thee, lady. But, alas the while! 
If Hercules and Lichas play at dice 
Which is the better man, the greater throw 
May turn by fortune from the weaker hand: 
So is Alcides beaten by his page; 35 

And so may I, blind fortune leading me, 
Miss that which one unworthier may attain, 
And die with grieving. 

Por. You must take your chance, 

And either not attempt to choose at all, 
Or swear, before you choose, if you choose wrong 40 
Never to speak to lady afterward 
In way of marriage: therefore be advised. 

Mor. Nor will not. Come, bring me unto my 
chance. 

Por. First, forward to the temple : after dinner 
Your hazard shall be made. 

Mor. Good fortune then! 45 

To make me blest or cursed'st among men. 

[Cornets, and exeunt. 

Scene II. Venice. A street. 
Enter Launcelot. 

Laun. Certainly my conscience will serve me to 
run from this Jew my master. The fiend is at mine 
elbow and tempts me, saying to me " Gobbo, Launce- 
lot Gobbo, good Launcelot," or "good Gobbo," or 
"good Launcelot Gobbo, use your legs, take the 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 31 

start, run away." My conscience says "No; take 
heed, honest Launcelot; take heed, honest Gobbo," 
or, as aforesaid, "honest Launcelot Gobbo; do not 
run; scorn running with thy heels." Well, the most 
courageous fiend bids me pack: "Via!" says the 
fiend; "away!" says the fiend; "for the heavens, 
rouse up a brave mind," says the fiend, "and run." 
Well, my conscience, hanging about the neck of my 
heart, says very wisely to me "My honest friend 
Launcelot, being an honest man's son," or rather an 
honest woman's son; for indeed my father did some- 
thing smack, something grow to, he had a kind of 
taste; well, my conscience says "Launcelot, budge 
not." " Budge," says the fiend. " Budge not," says 
my conscience. "Conscience," say I, "you counsel 
well;" "Fiend," say I, "you counsel well:" to be 
ruled by my conscience, I should stay with the Jew 
my master, who, God bless the mark, is a kind of 
devil; and, to run away from the Jew, I should be 
ruled by the fiend, who, saving your reverence, is the 
devil himself. Certainly the Jew is the very devil 
incarnal; and, in my conscience, my conscience is 
but a kind of hard conscience, to offer to counsel me 
to stay with the Jew. The fiend gives the more 
friendly counsel. I will run, fiend; my heels are at 
your command; I will run. 31 

Enter Old Gobbo, with a basket. 

Gob. Master young man, you, I pray you, which 
is the way to master Jew's? 

Laun. [Aside.] O heavens, this is my true-be- 
gotten father! who, being more than sand-blind, 
high-gravel-blind, knows me not: I will try confu- 
sions with him. 



3 2 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

Gob. Master young gentleman, I pray you, which 
is the way to master Jew's? 39 

Laun. Turn up on your right hand at the next 
turning, but, at the next turning of all, on your left; 
marry, at the very next turning, turn of no hand, but 
turn down indirectly to the Jew's house. 

Gob. By God's sondes, 'twill be a hard way to 
hit. Can you tell me whether one Launcelot, that 
dwells with him, dwell with him or no? 46 

Latin. Talk you of young Master Launcelot? 
[Aside.] Mark me now; now will I raise the waters. 
— Talk you of young Master Launcelot ? 

Gob. No master, sir, but a poor man's son : his 
father, though I say it, is an honest exceeding 
poor man and, God be thanked, well to live. 

Laun. Well, let his father be what a' will, we 
talk of young Master Launcelot. 

Gob. Your worship's friend and Launcelot, sir. 5 5 

Laun. But I pray you, ergo, old man, ergo, I 
beseech you, talk you of young master Launcelot? 

Gob. Of Launcelot, an 't please your mastership. 

Laun. Ergo, Master Launcelot. Talk not of 
Master Launcelot, father; for the young gentleman, 
according to Fates and Destinies and such odd say- 
ings, the Sisters Three and such branches of learning, 
is indeed deceased, or, as you would say in plain 
terms, gone to heaven. 

Gob. Marry, God forbid! the boy was the very 
staff of my age, my very prop. 66 

Laun. Do I look like a cudgel or a hovel-post, a 
staff or a prop? Do you know me, father? 

Gob. Alack the day, I know you not, young 
gentleman: but, I pray you, tell me, is my boy, 
God rest his soul, alive or dead ? 7 1 

Laun. Do vou not know me, father? 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 33 

Gob. Alack, sir, I am sand-blind; I know you 
not. 

Laun. Nay, indeed, if you had your eyes, you 
might fail of the knowing me: it is a wise father that 
knows his own child. Well, old man, I will tell you 
news of your son: give me your blessing: truth will 
come to light; murder cannot be hid long; a man's 
son may, but at the length truth will out. 80 

Gob. Pray you, sir, stand up: I am sure you are 
not Launcelot, my boy. 

Laun Pray you, let 's have no more fooling about 
it, but give me your blessing: I am Launcelot, your 
boy that was, your son that is, your child that shall be. 

Gob. I cannot think you are my son. 86 

Laun. I know not what I shall think of that: 
but I am Launcelot, the Jew's man, and I am sure 
Margery your w r ife is my mother. 

Gob. Her name is Margery, indeed: I'll be 
sworn, if thou be Launcelot, thou art mine ow r n 
flesh and blood. Lord worshipped might he be! 
what a beard hast thou got! thou hast got more 
hair on thy chin than Dobbin my fill-horse has on 
his tail. m 95 

Laun. It should seem then that Dobbin's tail 
grows backward : I am sure he had more hair of his 
tail than I have of my face when I last saw him. 

Gob. Lord, how art thou changed! How dost 
thou and thy master «, & ree ? I have brought him a 
present. How 'gree you now ? 101 

Laun. Well, well: but, for mine own part, as I 
have set up my rest to run away, so I will not rest till 
I have run some ground. My master's a very Jew : 
give him a present! give him a halter : I arn famished 
in his service ; you may tell every finger I have with 
my ribs. Father, I am glad you are come: give me 



34 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

your present to one Master Bassanio, who indeed 
gives rare new liveries : if I serve not him, I will run 
as far as God has any ground. O rare fortune! 
here comes the man: to him, father; for I am a 
Jew, if I serve the Jew any longer. 1 1 2 

Enter Bassanio, with Leonardo and other followers. 

Bass. You may do so ; but let it be so hasted that 
supper be ready at the farthest by five of the clock. 
See these letters delivered; put the liveries to making, 
and desire Gratiano to come anon to my lodging. 1 1 6 

[Exit a Servant. 

Laun. To him, father. 

Gob. God bless your worship! 

Bass. Gramercy! wouldst thou aught with me? 

Gob. Here's my son, sir, a poor boy — 120 

Laun. Not a poor boy, sir, but the rich Jew's 
man ; that would, sir, as my father shall specify — 

Gob. He hath a great infection, sir, as one would 
say, to serve — 124 

Laun. Indeed, the short and the long is, I serve 
the Jew, and have a desire, as my father shall 
specify — 

Gob. His master and he, saving your worship's 
reverence, are scarce cater-cousins — 129 

Laun. To be brief, the very truth is that the Jew, 
having done me wrong, doth cause me, as my father, 
being, I hope, an old man, shall frutify unto you — 

Gob. I have here a dish of doves that I would 
bestow upon your worship, and my suit is — 134 

Laun. In very brief, the suit is impertinent to 
myself, as your worship shall know by this honest 
old man; and, though I say it, though old man, yet 
poor man, my father. 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 35 

Bass. One speak for both. What would you ? 

Latin. Serve you, sir. 14c 

Gob. That is the very defect of the matter, sir. 

Bass. I know thee well; thou hast obtain'd thy 
suit: 
Shylock thy master spoke with me this day, 
And hath preferr'd thee, if it be preferment 
To leave a rich Jew's service, to become 145 

The follower of so poor a gentleman. 

Latin. -The old proverb is very well parted be- 
tween my master Shylock and you, sir: you have 
the grace of God, sir, and he hath enough. 

Bass. Thou speak'st it well. Go, father, with 
thy son. 150 

Take leave of thy old master and inquire 
My lodging out. Give him a livery 
More guarded than his fellows': see it done. 

Laun. Father, in. I cannot get a service, no; 
I have ne'er a tongue in my head. Well, if any man 
in Italy have a fairer table — which doth offer to 
swear upon a book, I shall have good fortune. Go 
to, here 's a simple line of life : here 's a small trifle of 
wives: alas, fifteen wives is nothing! eleven widows 
and nine maids is a simple coming-in for one man : 
and then to 'scape drowning thrice, and to be in 
peril of my life with the edge of a feather-bed; here 
are simple 'scapes. Well, if Fortune be a woman, 
she's a good wench for this gear. Father, come; 
I '11 take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling of an 
eye. 166 

[Exeunt Launcelot and Old Gobbo. 

Bass. I pray thee, good Leonardo, think on 
this: 
These things being bought and orderly bestow 'd 
Return in haste, for I do feast to-night 



3 6 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

My best-esteem'd acquaintance: hie thee, go. 170 
Leon. My best endeavors shall be done herein. 

Enter Gratiano. 

Gra. Where is your master? 

Leon. Yonder, sir, he walks. {Exit. 

Gra. Signior Bassanio! 

Bass. Gratiano! 

Gra. I have a suit to you. 

Bass. You have obtain'd it. 175 

Gra. You must not deny me : I must go with you 
to Belmont. 

Bass. Why then you must. But hear thee, 
Gratiano ; 
Thou art too wild, too rude and bold of voice; 
Parts that become thee happily enough 
And in such eyes as ours appear not faults; 180 
But where thou art not known, why, there they 

show 
Something too liberal. Pray thee, take pain 
To allay with some cold drops of modesty 
Thy skipping spirit, lest through thy wild behavior 
I be misconstrued in the place I go to 185 

And lose my hopes. 

Gra. Signior Bassanio, hear me: 

If I do not put on a sober habit, 
Talk with respect and swear but now and then, 
Wear prayer-books in my pocket, look demurely, 
Nay more, while grace is saying, hood mine eyes 1 go 
Thus with my hat, and sigh and say "amen," 
Use all the observance of civility, 
Like one well studied in a sad ostent 
To please his grandam, never trust me more. 

Bass. Well, we shall see your bearing. 195 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 37 

Gra. Nay, but I bar to-night: you shall not 
gauge me 
By what we do to-night. 

Bass. No, that were pity: 

I would entreat you rather to put on 
Your boldest suit of mirth, for we have friends 
That purpose merriment. But fare you well: 200 
I have some business. 

Gra. And I must to Lorenzo and the rest: 
But we will visit you at supper-time. [Exeunt. 



Scene III. The same, A room in Shylock's house 
Enter Jessica and Launcelot. 

Jes. I am sorry thou wilt leave my father so: 
Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil, 
Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness. 
But fare thee well, there is a ducat for thee: 
And, Launcelot, soon at supper shalt thou see 5 
Lorenzo, who is thy new master's guest: 
Give him this letter; do it secretly; 
And so farewell: I would not have my father 
See me in talk with thee. 

Laun. Adieu! tears exhibit my tongue. Most 
beautif ul pagan, most sweet Jew, adieu : these foolish 
drops do something drown my manly spirit: adieu. 

Jes. Farewell, good Launcelot. 

[Exit Launcelot. 
Alack, what heinous sin is it in me 
To be ashamed to be my father's child! 
But though I am a daughter to his blood, 15 

I am not to his manners. O Lorenzo, 
If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife, 
Become a Christian and thy loving wife. [Exit. 



3 8 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

Scene IV. The same. A street. 
Enter Gratiano, Lorenzo, Salarlno, and Salanio. 

Lor. Nay, we will slink away in supper-time, 
Disguise us at my lodging and return, 
All in an hour. 

Gra. We have not made good preparation. 

Salar. We have not spoke us yet of torch-bearers. 

Salan. 'Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly 
order'd, 6 

And better in my mind not undertook. 

Lor. 'Tis now but four o'clock: we have two 
hours 
To furnish us. 

Enter Launcelot, with a letter. 

Friend Launcelot, what's the news? 

Latin. An it shall please you to break up this, it 
shall seem to signify. n 

Lor. I know the hand: in faith, 'tis a fair hand, 
And whiter than the paper it writ on 
Is the fair hand that writ. 

Gra. Love-news, in faith. 

Laun. By your leave, sir. 15 

Lor. Whither goest thou ? 

Laun. Marry, sir, to bid my old master the Jew 
to sup to-night with my new master the Christian. 

Lor. Hold, here, take this: tell gentle Jessica 
I will not fail her; speak it privately. 20 

[Exit Launcelot. 
Go, gentlemen, 

Will you prepare you for this masque to-night? 
I am provided of a torch-bearer. 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 39 

Salar. Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight. 

Salan. And so will I. 

Lor. Meet me and Gratiano 25 

At Gratiano 's lodging some hour hence. 

Salar. 'Tis good we do so. 

[Exeunt Salarino and Salanio. 

Gra. Was not that letter from fair Jessica ? 

Lor. I must needs tell thee all. She hath directed 
How I shall take her from her father's house, 30 
What gold and jewels she is furnish'd with, 
What page's suit she hath in readiness. 
If e'er the Jew her father come to heaven, 
It will be for his gentle daughter's sake: 
And never dare misfortune cross her foot, 
Unless she do it under this excuse, 35 

That she is issue to a faithless Jew. 
Come, go with me; peruse this as thou goest: 
Fair Jessica shall be my torch-bearer. [Exeunt. 



Scene V. The same. Before Shylock's house. 
Enter Shylock and Launcelot. 

Shy. Well, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be thy 
judge, 
The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio: — 
What, Jessica! — thou shalt not gormandize, 
As thou hast done with me: — What, Jessica! — 
And sleep and snore, and rend apparel out: — 5 
Why, Jessica, I say! 

Laun. Why, Jessica! 

Shy. Who bids thee call ? I do not bid thee call. 

Laun. Your worship was wont to tell me that I 
could do nothing without bidding. 



4 o THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

Enter Jessica. 

Jes. Call you? what is your will? 10 

Shy. I am bid forth to supper, Jessica: 
There are my keys. But wherefore should I go ? 
I am not bid for love; they flatter me: 
But yet I'll go in hate, to feed upon 
The prodigal Christian. Jessica, my girl, 15 

Look to my house. I am right loath to go: 
There is some ill a-brewing towards my rest, 
For I did dream of money-bags to-night. 

Laun. I beseech you, sir, go: my young master 
doth expect your reproach. 20 

Shy. So do I his. 

Laun. An they have conspired together, I will not 
say you shall see a masque; but if you do, then it was 
not for nothing that my nose fell a-bleeding on Black- 
Monday last at six o'clock i' the morning, falling out 
that year on Ash-Wednesday was four year, in the 
afternoon. 

Shy. What, are there masques? Hear you me, 
Jessica: 
Lock up my doors; and when you hear the drum 
And the vile squealing of the wry-neck'd fife, 30 
Clamber not you up to the casements then, 
Nor thrust your head into the public street 
To gaze on Christian fools with varnish'd faces, 
But stop my house's ears, I mean my casements: 
Let not the sound of shallow foppery enter 35 

My sober house. By Jacob's staff, I swear, 
I have no mind of feasting forth to-night: 
But I will go. Go you before me, sirrah; 
Say I will come. 

Laun. I will go before, sir. Mistress, look out 
at window, for all this; 41 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 41 

There will come a Christian by 
Will be worth a Jewess' eye. [Exit. 

Shy. What says that fool of Hagar's offspring, 

' ha? 
Jes. His words were ''Farewell, mistress?" 
nothing else. 45 

Shy. The patch is kind enough, but a huge 
feeder; 
Snail-slow in profit, and he sleeps by day 
More than the wild-cat: drones hive not with 

me: 
Therefore I part with him, and part with him 
To one that I would have him help to waste 50 
His borrow'd purse. Well, Jessica, go in: 
Perhaps I will return immediately: 
Do as I bid you; shut doors after you: 
Fast bind, fast find; 
A proverb never stale in thrifty mind. [Exit. 

Jes. Farewell; and if my fortune be not crost, 
I have a father, you a daughter, lost. [Exit. 



Scene VI. The same. 
Enter Gratiano and Salarino, masqued. 

Gra. This is the pent-house under which Lorenzo 
Desired us to make stand. 

Solar. His hour is almost past. 

Gra.' And it is marvel he out-dwells his hour, 
For lovers ever run before the clock. 

Salar. O, ten times faster Venus' pigeons fly 5 
To seal love's bonds new-made, than they are wont 
To keep obliged faith unforfeited! 



42 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

Gra. That ever holds: who riseth from a feast 
With that keen appetite that he sits down? 
Where is the horse that doth untread again 10 

His tedious measures with the unbated fire 
That he did pace them first ? All things that are 
Are with more spirit chased than enjoy'd. 
How like a younker or a prodigal 
The scarfed bark puts from her native bay, 15 

Hugg'd and embraced by the strumpet wind! 
How like the prodigal doth she return, 
With over-weather'd ribs and ragged sails, 
Lean, rent and beggar'd by the strumpet wind! 

Salar. Here comes Lorenzo: more of this here- 
after. 20 

Enter Lorenzo. 

Lor. Sweet friends, your patience for my long 
abode; 
Not I, but my affairs, have made you wait: 
When you shall please to play the thieves for wives, 
I'll watch as long for you then. Approach; 
Here dwells my father Jew. Ho ! who 's within ? 25 

Enter Jessica, above, in boy's clothes. 

Jes. Who are you! Tell me, for more certainty, 
Albeit I'll swear that I do know your tongue. 

Lor. Lorenzo, and thy love. 

Jes. Lorenzo, certain, and my love indeed, 
For who love I so much ? And now who knows 30 
But you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours? 

Lor. Heaven and thy thoughts are witness that 
thou art. 

Jes. Here, catch this casket; it is worth the pains. 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 43 

I am glad 'tis night, you do not look on me, 

For I am much ashamed of my exchange: 35 

But love is blind and lovers cannot see 

The pretty follies that themselves commit; 

For if they could, Cupid himself would blush 

To see me thus transformed to a boy. 

Lor. Descend, for you must be my torch-bearer. 

Jes. What, must I hold a candle to my shames? 
They in themselves, good sooth, are too too light. 
Why, 'tis an office of discovery, love; 
And I should be obscured. 

Lor. So are you, sweet, 

Even in the lovely garnish of a boy. 45 

But come at once; 

For the close night doth play the runaway, 
And we are stay'd for at Bassanio's feast. 

Jes. I will make fast the doors, and gild myself 
With some more ducats, and be with you straight. 50 

[Exit above. 

Gra. Now, by my hood, a Gentile and no Jew. 

Lor. Beshrew me but I love her heartily; 
For she is wise, if I can judge of her, 
And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true, 
And true she is, as she hath proved herself, 55 

And therefore, like herself, wise, fair, and true, 
Shall she be placed in my constant soul. 

Enter Jessica, below. 

What, art thou come? On, gentlemen; away! 
Our masquing mates by this time for us stay. 

[Exit with Jessica and Salarino. 

Enter Antonio. 



44 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

Ant. Who's there? 60 

Gra. Signior Antonio! 

Ant. Fie, fie, Gratiano! where were all the rest? 
'Tis nine o'clock: our friends all stay for you. 
No masque to-night: the wind is come about; 
Bassanio presently will go aboard: 65 

I have sent twenty out to seek for you. 

Gra. I am glad on't: I desire no more delight 
Than to be under sail and gone to-night. [Exeunt. 



Scene VII. Belmont. A room in Portia's house. 

Flourish of cornets. Enter Portia, with the 
Prince of Morocco, and their trains. 

Por. Go draw aside the curtains and discover 
The several caskets to this noble prince. 
Now make your choice. 

Mor. The first, of gold, who this inscription 
bears, 
1 ' Who chooseth me shall gain what many men de- 
sire;" _ 5 
The second, silver, which this promise carries, 
" Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves;" 
This third, dull lead, with warning all as blunt, 
"Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he 

hath." 
How shall I know if I do choose the right ? 1 o 

Por. The one of them contains my picture, 
prince: 
If you choose that, then I am yours withal. 

Mor. Some god direct my judgment! Let me 

I will survey the inscriptions back again. 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 45 

What says this leaden casket ? 1 5 

"Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he 

hath." 
Must give ! for what ? for lead ? hazard for lead ? 
This casket threatens. Men that hazard all 
Do it in hope of fair advantages: 
A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross; 20 
I '11 then nor give nor hazard aught for lead. 
What says the silver with her virgin hue? 
"Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves." 
As much as he deserves! Pause there, Morocco, 
And weigh thy value with an even hand: 25 

If thou be'st rated by thy estimation, 
Thou dost deserve enough; and yet enough 
May not extend so far as to the lady: 
And yet to be afeard of my deserving 
Were but a weak disabling of myself. 3° 

As much as I deserve! Why, that's the lady: 
I do in birth deserve her, and in fortunes, 
In graces and in qualities of breeding; 
But more than these, in love I do deserve. 
What if I stray'd no further, but chose here? 3s 
Let's see once more this saying graved in gold; 
"Who chooseth me shall gain what many men de- 
sire." 
Why, that's the lady; all the world desires her; 
From the four corners of the earth they come, 
To kiss this shrine, this mortal breathing saint: 40 
The Hyrcanian deserts and the vasty wilds 
Of wide Arabia are as throughfares now 
For princes to come view fair Portia: 
The watery kingdom, whose ambitious head 
Spits in the face of heaven, is no bar 45 

To stop the foreign spirits, but they come, 
As o'er a brook, to see fair Portia. 



46 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

One of these three contains her heavenly picture. 
Is't like that lead contains her? 'Twere damna- 
tion 
To think so base a thought: it were too gross 50 
To rib her cerecloth in the obscure grave. 
Or shall I think in silver she's immured, 
Being ten times undervalued to tried gold? 
O sinful thought! Never so rich a gem 
Was set in worse than gold. They have in England 
A coin that bears the figure of an angel 56 

Stamped in gold, but that's insculp'd upon; 
But here an angel in a golden bed 
Lies all within. Deliver me the key: 
Here do I choose, and thrive I as I may! 60 

Por. There, take it, prince; and if my form lie 
there, 
Then I am yours. [He unlocks the golden casket. 

Mot. O hell! what have we here ? 

A carrion Death, within whose empty eye 
There is a written scroll! I'll read the writing. 
[Reads.] All that glisters is not gold; 65 

Often have you heard that told: 
Many a man his life hath sold 
But my outside to behold: 
Gilded tombs do worms infold. 
Had you been as wise as bold, 70 

Young in limbs, in judgment old, 
Your answer had not been inscroll'd: 
Fare you well; your suit is cold. 

Cold, indeed; and labor lost: 
Then, farewell, heat, and welcome, frost! 
Portia, adieu. I have too grieved a heart 76 

To take a tedious leave: thus losers part. 

[Exit with his train. Flourish of cornets. 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 47 

Por. A gentle riddance. Draw the curtains, go. 
Let all of his complexion choose me so. [Exeunt. 



Scene VIII. Venice. A street. 
Enter Salarino and Salanio. 

Solar. Why, man, I saw Bassanio under sail: 
With him is Gratiano gone along; 
And in their ship I am sure Lorenzo is not. 

Salan. The villain Jew with outcries raised the 
duke, 
Who went with him to search Bassanio's ship. 5 

Solar. He came too late, the ship was under sail: 
But there the duke was given to understand 
That in a gondola were seen together 
Lorenzo and his amorous Jessica: 
Besides, Antonio certified the duke ia 

They were not with Bassanio in his ship. 

Solan. I never heard a passion so confused, 
So strange, outrageous, and so variable, 
As the dog Jew did utter in the streets: 
" My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter! 15 
Fled with a Christian! O my Christian ducats! 
Justice! the law! my ducats, and my daughter! 
A sealed bag, two sealed bags of ducats, 
Of double ducats, stolen from me by my daughter! 
And jewels, two stones, two rich and precious stones, 
Stolen by my daughter! Justice! find the girl; 21 
She hath the stones upon her, and the ducats." 

Solar. Why, all the boys in Venice follow him, 
Crying, his stones, his daughter, and his ducats. 

Salan. Let good Antonio look he keep his day, 25 
Or he shall pay for this. 



4 S THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

Solar. Marry, well remember'd. 

I reason'd with a Frenchman yesterday, 
Who told me, in the narrow seas that part 
The French and English, there miscarried 
A vessel of our country richly fraught: 30 

I thought upon Antonio when he told me, 
And wish'd in silence that it were not his. 

Salan, You were best to tell Antonio what you 
hear; 
Yet do not suddenly, for it may grieve him. 

Salar. A kinder gentleman treads not the earth. 
I saw Bassanio and Antonio part: 36 

Bassanio told him he would make some speed 
Of his return: he answer'd, "Do not so; 
Slubber not business for my sake, Bassanio, 
But stay the very riping of the time; 4c 

And for the Jew's bond which he hath of me, 
Let it not enter in your mind of love: 
Be merry, and employ your chiefest thoughts 
To courtship and such fair ostents of love 
As shall conveniently become you there :" 45 

And even there, his eye being big with tears, 
Turning his face, he put his hand behind him, 
And with affection wondrous sensible 
He wrung Bassanio's hand; and so they parted. 

Salan. I think he only loves the world for him. 50 
I pray thee, let us go and find him out 
And quicken his embraced heaviness 
With some delight or other. 

Salar. Do we so. [Exeunt. 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 49 

Scene IX. Belmont. A room in Portia's house. 
Enter Nerissa with a Servitor. 

Ner. Quick, quick, I pray thee; draw the cur- 
tain straight: 
The Prince of Arragon hath ta'en his oath, 
And comes to his election presently. 

Flourish of comets. Enter the Prince of Arragon, 
Portia, and their trains. 

Por. Behold, there stand the caskets, noble 
prince: 
If you choose that wherein I am contain'd, 5 

Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemnized. 
But if you fail, without more speech, my lord. 
You must be gone from hence immediately. 

A r. I am enjoin'd by oath to observe three things : 
First, never to unfold to any one 10 

Which casket 'twas I chose; next, if I fail 
Of the right casket, never in my life 
To woo a maid in way of marriage: 
Lastly, 

If I do fail in fortune of my choice, 15 

Immediately to leave you and be gone. 

Por. To these injunctions every one doth swear 
That comes to hazard for my worthless self. 

Ar. And so have I address'd me. Fortune now 

To my heart's hope! Gold; silver; and base lead. 

"Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he 

hath." 2i 

You shall look fairer, ere I <?ive or hazard. 



5° 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 



What says the golden chest? ha! let me see: 
"Who choose th me shall gain what many men de- 
sire." 
What many men desire! that "many" may be 
meant 2 5 

By the fool multitude, that choose by show, 
Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach; 
Which pries not to the interior, but, like the martlet, 
Builds in the weather on the outward wall, 
Even in the force and road of casualty. 30 

I will not choose what many men desire, 
Because I will not jump with common spirits 
And rank me with the barbarous multitudes 
Why, then to thee, thou silver treasure-house 
Tell me once more what title thou dost bear: 35 
'Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves:" 
And well said too; for who shall go about 
To cozen fortune and be honorable 
Without the stamp of merit? Let none presume 
To wear an undeserved dignity. 40 

O, that estates, degrees and offices 
Were not derived corruptly, and that clear honor 
Were purchased by the merit of the wearer! 
How many then should cover that stand bare! 
How many be commanded that command! 45 

How much low peasantry would then be glean'd 
From the true seed of honor! and how much honor 
Pick'd from the chaff and ruin of the times 
To be new-varnish'd! Well, but to my choice: 
" Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves." 
I will assume desert. Give me a key for this, 5 1 

And instantly unlock my fortunes here. 

[He opens the silver casket. 
Por. Too long a pause for that which you find 
there. 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 51 

A r. What 's here ? the portrait of a blinking idiot, 

Presenting me a schedule! I will read it. 55 

How much unlike art thou to Portia! 

How much unlike my hopes and my deservings! 

"Who chooseth me shall get as much as he de- 
serves." 

Did I deserve no more than a fool's head? 

Is that my prize ? are my deserts no better ? 60 
Por. To offend, and judge, are distinct offices 

And of opposed natures. 

Ar. What is here? 

[Reads. The fire seven times tried this: 

Seven times tried that judgment is, 

That did never choose amiss. 65 

Some there be that shadows kiss; 

Such have but a shadow's bliss: 

There be fools alive, I wis, 

Silver'd o'er; and so was this. 

Take what wife you will to bed, 70 

I will ever be your head: 

So be gone, sir: you are sped. 

Still more fool I shall appear 

By the time I linger here: 

With one fool's head I came to woo, 75 

But I go away with two. 

Sweet, adieu. I'll keep my oath, 

Patiently to bear my wroth. 

[Exeunt Arragon and train. 
Por. Thus hath the candle singed the moth. 
O, these deliberate fools! when they do choose, 80 
They have the wisdom by their wit to lose. 

Ner. The ancient saying is no heresy, 
Hanging and wiving goes by destiny. 
Por. Come, draw the curtain, Nerissa. 



52 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

Enter a Servant. 

Serv. Where is my lady? 

Por. Here: what would my lord? 85 

Serv. Madam, there is alighted at your gate 
A young Venetian, one that comes before 
To signify the approaching of his lord; 
From whom he bringeth sensible regreets, 
To wit, besides commends and courteous breath, 90 
Gifts of rich value. Yet I have not seen 
So likely an ambassador of love: 
A day in April never came so sweet, 
To show how costly summer was at hand, 
As this fore-spurrer comes before his lord. 95 

Por. No more, I pray thee: I am half afeard 
Thou wilt say anon he is some kin to thee, 
Thou spend'st such high-day wit in praising him. 
Come, come, Nerissa; for I long to see 
Quick Cupid's post that comes so mannerly. 100 

Ner. Bassanio, lord Love, if thy will it be! 

^Exeunt. 



ACT III. 

Scene I. Venice. A street. 
Enter Salanio and Salarino. 

Salan, Now, what news on the Rialto? 

Salar. Why, yet it lives there unchecked that An- 
tonio hath a ship of rich lading wrecked on the nar- 
row seas; the Goodwins, I think they call the place; 
a very dangerous flat and fatal, where the carcasses of 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 53 

many a tall ship lie buried, as they say, if my gossip 
Report be an honest woman of her word. 7 

Sedan. I would she were as lying a gossip in that 
as ever knapped ginger or made her neighbors believe 
she wept for the death of a third husband. But it is 
true, without any slips of prolixity or crossing the 
plain highway of talk, that the good Antonio, the 
honest Antonio — O that I had a title good enough 
to keep his name company! — 

Solar. Come, the full stop. 15 

Salan. Ha! what sayest thou? Why, the end is, 
he hath lost a ship. 

Salar. I would it might prove the end of his 
losses. 19 

Salan. Let me say ' ' amen" betimes, lest the devil 
cross my prayer, for here he comes in the likeness of 
a Jew. 

Enter Shylock. 

How now, Shylock! what news among the mer- 
chants ? 

Shy. You knew, none so well, none so well as 
you, of my daughter's flight. 26 

Salar. That's certain: I, for my part, knew the 
tailor that made the wings she flew withal. 

Salan. And Shylock, for his own part, knew the 
bird was fledged; and then it is the complexion of 
them all to leave the dam. 31 

Shy. My own flesh and blood to rebel! 

Salar. There is more difference between thy flesh 
and hers than between jet and ivory; more between 
your bloods than there is between red wine and 
Rhenish. But tell us, do you hear whether Antonio 
have had any loss at sea or no? 37 

Shy. There I have another bad match : a bank- 



54 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

rupt, a prodigal, who dare scarce show his head on 
the Rialto; a beggar, that was used to come so smug 
upon the mart; let him look to his bond: he was 
wont to call me usurer; let him look to his bond: 
he was wont to lend money for a Christian courtesy; 
let him look to his bond. 

Salar. Why, I am sure, if he forfeit, thou wilt not 
take his flesh: what's that good for? 46 

Shy. To bait fish withal: if it will feed nothing 
else, it will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced me, 
and hindered me half a million; laughed at my losses, 
mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted 
my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine en- 
emies; and what 's his reason ? I am a Jew. Hath 
not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs, 
dimensions, senses, affections, passions? fed with 
the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject 
to the same diseases, healed by the same means, 
warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, 
as a Christian is ? If you prick us, do we not bleed ? 
if you tickle us, do we not laugh ? if you poison us, 
do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not 
revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will 
resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian, 
what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian 
wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by 
Christian example? Why, revenge. The villainy 
you teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard 
but I will better the instruction. 67 

Enter a Servant. 

Serv. Gentlemen, my master Antonio is at his 
house and desires to speak with you both. 

Salar. We have been up and down to seek him. 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 55 

Enter Tubal. 

Salan. Here comes another of the tribe: a third 
cannot be matched, unless the devil himself turn 
Jew. [Exeunt Salanio, Salarino, and Servant. 

Shy. How now, Tubal! what news from Genoa ? 
hast thou found my daughter? 75 

Tub. I often came where I did hear of her, but 
cannot find her. 

Shy. Why, there, there, there, there! a diamond 
gone, cost me two thousand ducats in Frankfort! 
The curse never fell upon our nation till now; I 
never felt it till now; two thousand ducats in that; 
and other precious, precious jewels. I would my 
daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her 
ear! would she were hearsed at my foot, and the 
ducats in her coffin! No news of them? Why, so: 
and I know not what's spent in the search; why, 
thou loss upon loss! the thief gone with so much, 
and so much to find the thief; and no satisfaction, 
no revenge: nor no ill luck stirring but what lights 
on my shoulders; no sighs but of my breathing; no 
tears but of my shedding. 91 

Tub. Yes, other men have ill luck too: Antonio, 
as I heard in Genoa — 

Shy. What, what, what ? ill luck, ill luck ? 

Tub. Hath an argosy cast away, coming from 
Tripolis. 96 

Shy. I thank God, I thank God. Is't true, is't 
true? 

Tub. I spoke with some of the sailors that es- 
caped the wreck. 100 

Shy. I thank thee, good Tubal: good news, good 
news! ha, ha! where? in Genoa? 



56 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

Tub. Your daughter spent in Genoa, as I heard, 
in one night fourscore ducats! 104 

Shy. Thou stickest a dagger in me : I shah never 
see my gold again: fourscore ducats at a sitting! 
fourscore ducats! 

Tub. There came divers of Antonio's creditors 
in my company to Venice, that swear he cannot 
choose but break. no 

Shy. I am very glad of it: I'll plague him; I'll 
torture him: I am glad of it. 

Tub. One of them showed me a ring that he had 
of your daughter for a monkey. 1 1 4 

Shy. Out upon her! Thou torturest me, Tubal : 
it was my turquoise; I had it of Leah when I was 
a bachelor: I would not have given it for a wilderness 
of monkeys. 

Tub. But Antonio is certainly undone. 119 

Shy. Nay, that's true, that's very true. Go, 
Tubal, fee me an officer; bespeak him a fortnight 
before. I will have the heart of him, if he forfeit; 
for, were he out of Venice, I can make what mer- 
chandise I will. Go to, Tubal, and meet me at our 
synagogue; go, good Tubal; at our synagogue, 
Tubal. [Exeunt. 

Scene II. Belmont. A room in Portia's house. 

Enter Bassanio, Portia, Gratiano, Nerissa, 
and Attendants. 

Por. I pray you, tarry: pause a day or two 
Before you hazard; for, in choosing wrong, 
I lose your company: therefore forbear awhile. 
There's something tells me, but it is not love, 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 57 

I would not lose you; and you know yourself, 5 
Hate counsels not in such a quality. 
But lest you should not understand me well — 
And yet a maiden hath no tongue but thought — 
I would detain you here some month or two 
Before you venture for me. I could teach you 10 
How to choose right, but I am then forsworn; 
So will I never be: so may you miss me; 
But if you do, you'll make me wish a sin, 
That I had been forsworn. Beshrew your eyes, 
They have o'erlook'd me and divided me; 15 

One half of me is yours, the other half yours, 
Mine own, I would say; but if mine, then yours, 
And so all yours. O, these naughty times 
Put bars between the owners and their rights! 
And so, though yours, not yours. Prove it so, 20 
Let fortune go to hell for it, not I. 
I speak too long; but 'tis to peize the time, 
To eke it and to draw it out in length, 
To stay you from election. 

Bass. Let me choose; 

For as I am, I live upon the rack. 25 

Por. Upon the rack, Bassanio! then confess 
What treason there is mingled with your love. 

Bass. None but that ugly treason of mistrust, 
Which makes me fear the enjoying of my love: 
There may as well be amity and life 30 

'Tween snow and fire, as treason and my love. 

Por. Ay, but I fear you speak upon the rack, 
Where men enforced do speak anything. 

Bass. Promise me life, and I '11 confess the truth. 

Por. Well then, confess and live. 

Bass. " Confess" and " love" 35 

Had been the very sum of my confession: 
O happy torment, when my torturer 



58 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

Doth teach me answers for deliverance! 
But let me to my fortune and the caskets. 

Por. Away, then! I am lock'd in one of them: 4° 
If you do love me, you will find me out. 
Nerissa and the rest, stand all aloof. 
Let music sound while he doth make his choice; 
Then, if he lose, he makes a swan-like end, 
Fading in music: that the comparison 45 

May stand more proper, my eye shall be the stream 
And watery death-bed for him. He may win; 
And what is music then? Then music is 
Even as the flourish when true subjects bow 
To a new-crowned monarch: such it is 50 

As are those dulcet sounds in break of day 
That creep into the dreaming bridegroom's ear 
And summon him to marriage. Now he goes, 
With not less presence, but with much more love, 
Than young Alcides, when he did redeem 55 

The virgin tribute paid by howling Troy 
To the sea- monster: I stand for sacrifice; 
The rest aloof are the Dardanian wives, 
With bleared visages, come forth to view 
The issue of the exploit. Go, Hercules! 60 

Live thou, I live: with much much more dismay 
I view the fight than thou that makest the fray. 

[Music, whilst Bassanio comments on the 
caskets to himself. 

Song 

Tell me where is fancy bred, 

Or in the heart or in the head? 

How begot, how nourished? 65 

Reply, reply. 
It is engender'd in the eyes, 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 59 

With gazing fed; and fancy dies 

In the cradle where it lies. 

Let us all ring fancy's knell: 70 

I '11 begin it — Ding, dong, bell. 

All. Ding, dong, bell. 

Bas. So may the outward shows be least them- 
selves; 
The world is still deceived with ornament. 
In law, what plea so tainted and corrupt 75 

But, being season'd with a gracious voice, 
Obscures the show of evil ? In religion, 
What damned error, but some sober brow 
Will bless it and approve it with a text, 
Hiding the grossness with fair ornament? 80 

There is no vice so simple but assumes 
Some mark of virtue on his outward parts: 
How many cowards, whose hearts are all as false 
As stairs of sand, wear yet upon their chins 
The beards of Hercules and frowning Mars, 85 
Who, inward search'd, have livers white as milk; 
And these assume but valor's excrement 
To render them redoubted! Look on beauty, 
And you shall see 'tis purchased by the weight; 
Which therein works a miracle in nature, 90 

Making them lightest that wear most of it: 
So are those crisped snaky golden locks 
Which make such wanton gambols with the wind, 
Upon supposed fairness, often known 
To be the dowry of a second head, 95 

The skull that bred them in the sepulchre. 
Thus ornament is but the guiled shore 
To a most dangerous sea; the beauteous scarf 
Veiling an Indian beauty; in a word, 
The seeming truth which cunning times put on 100 



60 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

To entrap the wisest. Therefore, thou gaudy gold, 
Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee; 
Nor none of thee, thou pale and common drudge 
'Tween man and man: but thou, thou meagre 

lead, 
Which rather threatenest than dost promise aught, 
Thy paleness moves me more than eloquence; 106 
And here choose I: joy be the consequence! 

Por. [Aside.] How all the other passions fleet 

to air, 
As doubtful thoughts, and rash-embraced despair, 
And shuddering fear, and green-eyed jealousy! no 

love, be moderate; allay thy ecstasy; 
In measure rain thy joy; scant this excess. 

1 feel too much thy blessing: make it less, 
For fear I surfeit. 

Bass. What find I here? 

[Opening the leaden casket. 
Fair Portia's counterfeit ! What demi-god 1 1 5 

Hath come so near creation ? Move these eyes ? 
Or whether, riding on the balls of mine, 
Seem they in motion? Here are sever'd lips, 
Parted with sugar breath: so sweet a bar 
Should sunder such sweet friends. Here in her hairs 
The painter plays the spider and hath woven 121 
A golden mesh to entrap the hearts of men 
Faster than gnats in cobwebs: but her eyes — 
How could he see to do them? having made one, 
Methinks it should have power to steal both his 1 2 5 
And leave itself unfurnish'd. Yet look, how far 
The substance of my praise doth wrong this shadow 
In underprizing it, so far this shadow 
Doth limp behind the substance. Here's the 

scroll, 
The continent and summary of my fortune. 130 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 61 

[Reads.] You that choose not by the view, 
Chance as fair and choose as true! 
Since this fortune falls to you, 
Be content and seek no new. 
If you be well pleased with this 135 

And hold your fortune for your bliss, 
Turn you where your lady is 
And claim her with a loving kiss. 

A gentle scroll. Fair lady, by your leave; 

I come by note, to give and to receive. 140 

Like one of two contending in a prize, 

That thinks he hath done well in people's eyes, 

Hearing applause and universal shout, 

Giddy in spirit, still gazing in a doubt 

Whether those peals of praise be his or no, 145 

So, thrice-fair lady, stand I, even so; 

As doubtful whether what I say be true, 

Until confirmed, sign'd, ratified by you. 

Por. You see me, Lord Bassanio, where I stand, 
Such as I am: though for myself alone 150 

I would not be ambitious in my wish, 
To wish myself much better; yet, for you 
I would be trebled twenty times myself; 
A thousand times more fair, ten thousand times 
More rich; 155 

That only to stand high in your account, 
I might in virtues, beauties, livings, friends, 
Exceed account; but the full sum of me 
Is sum of — something, which, to term in gross, 
Is an unlesson'd girl, unschool'd, unpractised; 160 
Happy in this, she is not yet so old 
But she may learn; happier than this, 
She is not bred so dull but she can learn; 
Happiest of all in that her gentle spirit 



62 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

Commits itself to yours to be directed, 165 

As from her lord, her governor, her king. 
Myself and what is mine to you and yours 
Is now converted: but now I was the lord 
Of this fair mansion, master of my servants, 
Queen o'er myself; and even now, but now, 1 70 
This house, these servants and this same myself 
Are yours, my lord: I give them with this ring; 
Which when you part from, lose, or give away, 
Let it presage the ruin of your love 
And be my vantage to exclaim on you. 175 

Bass. Madam, you have bereft me of all words, 
Only my blood speaks to you in my veins; 
And there is such confusion in my powers 
As, after some oration fairly spoke 
By a beloved prince, there doth appear 180 

Among the buzzing pleased multitude; 
Where every something, being blent together, 
Turns to a wild of nothing, save of joy, 
Express'd and not express'd. But when this ring 
Parts from this finger, then parts life from hence : 185 
O, then be bold to say Bassanio's dead! 

Ner. My lord and lady, it is now our time, 
That have stood by and seen our wishes prosper, 
To cry, good joy: good joy, my lord and lady! 

Gra. My lord Bassanio and my gentle lady, 190 
I wish you all the joy that you can wish; 
For I am sure you can wish none from me: 
And when your honors mean to solemnize 
The bargain of your faith, I do beseech you, 
Even at that time I may be married too. 195 

Bass. With all my heart, so thou canst get a wife. 

Gra. I thank your lordship, you have got me one. 
My eyes, my lord, can look as swift as yours: 
You saw the mistress, I beheld the maid; 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 63 

You loved, I loved; for intermission 200 

No more pertains to me, my lord, than you. 

Your fortune stood upon the casket here, 

And so did mine too, as the matter falls; 

For wooing here until I sweat again, 

And swearing till my very roof was dry 205 

With oaths of love, at last, if promise last, 

I got a promise of this fair one here ■ 

To have her love, provided that your fortune 

Achieved her mistress. 

Por. Is this true, Nerissa? 

Ner. Madam, it is, so you stand pleased withal. 

Bass. And do you, Gratiano, mean good faith? 

Gra. Yes, faith, my lord. 

Bass. Our feast shall be much honor'd in your 
marriage. 

Gra. But who comes here? Lorenzo and his 
infidel ? 
What, and my old Venetian friend Salerio? 215 



Enter Lorenzo, Jessica, and Salerio, a mes- 
senger from Venice. 

Bass. Lorenzo and Salerio, welcome hither; 
If that the youth of my new interest here 
Have power to bid you welcome. By your leave, 
I bid my very friends and countrymen, 
Sweet Portia, welcome. 

Por. So do I, my lord, 220 

They are entirely welcome. 

Lor. I thank your honor. For my part, my lord, 
My purpose was not to have seen you here; 
But meeting with Salerio by the way, 
He did entreat me, past all saying nay, 225 



64 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

To come with him along. 

Saler. I did, my lord; 

And I have reason for it. Signor Antonio 
Commends him to you. [Gives Bassanio a letter. 

Bass. Ere I ope his letter, 

I pray you, tell me how my good friend doth. 

Saler. Not sick, my lord, unless it be in mind ; 230 
Nor well, unless in mind: his letter there 
Will show you his estate. 

Gra. Nerissa, cheer yon stranger; bid her wel- 
come. 
Your hand, Salerio: what's the news from Venice? 
How doth that royal merchant, good Antonio ? 235 
I know he will be glad of our success; 
We are the Jasons, we have won the fleece. 

Saler. I would you had won the fleece that he 
hath lost. 

Por. There are some shrewd contents in yon 
same paper, 
That steals the color from Bassanio's cheek: 240 
Some dear friend dead; else nothing in the world 
Could turn so much the constitution 
Of any constant man. What, worse and worse! 
With leave, Bassanio; I am half yourself, 
And I must freely have the half of anything 245 
That this same paper bring you. 

Bass. O sweet Portia, 

Here are a few of the unpleasant'st words 
That ever blotted paper! Gentle lady, 
When I did first impart my love to you, 
I freely told you, all the wealth I had 250 

Ran in my veins, I was a gentleman; 
And then I told you true: and yet, dear lady, 
Rating myself at nothing, you shall see 
How much I was a braggart. When I told you 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 65 

My state was nothing, I should then have told you 
That I was worse than nothing; for indeed 256 
I have engaged myself to a dear friend, 
Engaged my friend to his mere enemy, 
To feed my means. Here is a letter, lady; 
The paper as the body of my friend, 260 

And every word in it a gaping wound, 
Issuing life-blood. But is it true, Salerio ? 
Have all his ventures fail'd ? What, not one hit ? 
From Tripolis, from Mexico and England, 
From Lisbon, Barbary and India? 265 

And not one vessel 'scape the dreadful touch 
Of merchant-marring rocks ? 

Saler. Not one, my lord. 

Besides, it should appear, that if he had 
The present money to discharge the Jew, 
He would not take it. Never did I know 270 

A creature, that did bear the shape of man, 
So keen and greedy to confound a man: 
He plies the duke at morning and at night, 
And doth impeach the freedom of the state, 
If they deny him justice : twenty merchants, 273 
The duke himself, and the magnificoes 
Of greatest port, have all persuaded with him; 
But none can drive him from the envious plea 
Of forfeiture, of justice and his bond. 

Jes. When I was with him I have heard him 
swear 280 

To Tubal and to Chus, his countrymen, 
That he would rather have Antonio's flesh 
Than twenty times the value of the sum 
That he did owe him: and I know, my lord, 
If law, authority and power deny not, 285 

It will go hard with poor Antonio. 

Por. Is it your dear friend that is thus in trouble ? 



66 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

Bass. The dearest friend to me, the kindest man, 
The best-condition'd and unwearied spirit 
In doing courtesies, and one in whom 200 

The ancient Roman honor more appears 
Than any that draws breath in Italy. 

Par. What sum owes he the Jew ? 

Bass. For me three thousand ducats. 

For. What, no more? 

Pay him six thousand, and deface the bond; 295 
Double. six thousand, and then treble that, 
Before a friend of this description 
Shall lose a hair through Bassanio's fault. 
First go with me to church and call me wife. 
And then away to Venice to your friend; 300 

For never shall you lie by Portia's side 
With an unquiet soul. You shall have gold 
To pay the petty debt twenty times over: 
W T hen it is paid, bring your true friend along. 
My maid Nerissa and myself meantime 305 

Will live as maids and widows. Come, away! 
For you shall hence upon your wedding-day: 
Bid your friends welcome, show a merry cheer: 
Since you are dear bought, I will love you dear. 
But let me hear the letter of your friend. 310 

Bass. [Reads.] Sweet Bassanio, my ships have 
all miscarried, my creditors grow cruel, my estate is 
very low, my bond to the Jew is forfeit; and since in 
paying it, it is impossible I should live, all debts are 
cleared between you and I. If I might but see you 
at my death — notwithstanding, use your pleasure : 
if your love do not persuade you to come, let not my 
letter. 

Por. O love, dispatch all business, and be gone! 

Bass. Since I have your good leave to go away, 

I will make haste: but, till I come again, 321 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 67 

No bed shall e'er be guilty of my stay, 

No rest be interposer 'twixt us twain. [Exeunt. 



Scene III. Venice. A sir ret. 

Enter Shylock, Salarino, Antonio, and Gaoler. 

Shy. Gaoler, look to him: tell not me of mercy; 
This is the fool that lent out money gratis: 
Gaoler, look to him. 

Ant. Hear me yet, good Shylock. 

Shy. I'll have my bond; speak not against my 
bond: 
I have sworn an oath that I will have my bond. 5 
Thou call'st me dog before thou hadst a cause; 
But, since I am a dog, beware my fangs: 
The duke shall grant me justice. I do wonder, 
Thou naughty gaoler, that thou art so fond 
To come abroad with him at his request. 10 

Ant. I pray thee, hear me speak. 

Shy. I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee 
speak: 
I'll have my bond; and therefore speak no more. 
I '11 not be made a soft and dull-eyed fool, 
To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield 15 
To Christian intercessors. Follow not; 
I'll have no speaking; I will have my bond. [Exit. 

Salar. It is the most impenetrable cur 
That ever kept with men. 

Ant. Let him alone; 

I'll follow him no more with bootless prayers. 20 
He seeks my life; his reason well I know: 
I oft deliver'd from his forfeitures 



68 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

Many that have at times made moan to me; 
Therefore he hates me. 

Solar. I am sure the duke 

Will never grant this forfeiture to hold. 25 

Ant. The duke cannot deny the course of law: 
For the commodity that strangers have 
With us in Venice, if it be denied, 
Will much impeach the justice of the state; 
Since that the trade and profit of the city 30 

Consisteth of all nations. Therefore go: 
These griefs and losses have so bated me, 
That I shall hardly spare a pound of flesh 
To-morrow to my bloody creditor. 
Well, gaoler, on. Pray God, Bassanio come 35 
To see me pay his debt, and then I care not ! [Exeunt. 



Scene IV. Belmont. A room in Portia's house. 

Enter Portia, Nerissa, Lorenzo, Jessica, and 
Balthasar. 

Lor. Madam, although I speak it in your 
presence, 
You have a noble and a true conceit 
Of god-like amity; which appears most strongly 
In bearing thus the absence of your lord. 
But if you knew to whom you show this honor, 5 
How true a gentleman you send relief, 
How dear a lover of my lord your husband, 
I know you would be prouder of the work 
Than customary bounty can enforce you. 

Por. I never did repent for doing good, 10 

Nor shall not now: for in companions 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 69 

That do converse and waste the time together, 

Whose souls do bear an equal yoke of love, 

There must be needs a like proportion 

Of lineaments, of manners and of spirit; 15 

Which makes me think that this Antonio, 

Being the bosom lover of my lord, 

Must needs be like my lord. If it be so, 

How little is the cost I have bestow 'd 

In purchasing the semblance of my soul 20 

From out the state of hellish misery! 

This comes too near the praising of myself: 

Therefore no more of it: hear other things. 

Lorenzo, I commit into your hands 

The husbandry and manage of my house 25 

Until my lord's return: for mine own part, 

I have toward heaven breathed a secret vow 

To live in prayer and contemplation, 

Only attended by Nerissa here, 

Until her husband and my lord's return: 30 

There is a monastery two miles off; 

And there will we abide. I do desire you 

Not to deny this imposition, 

The which my love and some necessity 

Now lays upon you. 

Lor. Madam, with all my heart: 35 

I shall obey you in all fair commands. 

Por. My people do already know my mind, 
And will acknowledge you and Jessica 
In place of Lord Bassanio and myself. 
And so farewell, till we shall meet again. 40 

Lor. Fair thoughts and happy hours attend on 
you! 

Jes. I wish your ladyship all heart's content. 

Por. I thank you for your wish, and am well 
pleased 



7 o THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

To wish it back on you: fare you well, Jessica. 

[Exeunt Jessica and Lorenzo. 
Now, Balthasar, 4 5 

As I have ever found thee honest-true, 
So let me find thee still. Take this same letter, 
And use thou all the endeavor of a man 
In speed to Padua: see thou render this 
Into my cousin's hand, Doctor Bellario; 50 

And, look, what notes and garments he doth give 

thee, 
Bring them, I pray thee, with imagined speed 
Unto the traject, to the common ferry 
Which trades to Venice. Waste no time in words, 
But get thee gone: I shall be there before thee. 55 

Balth. Madam, I go with all convenient speed. 

[Exit. 

Por. Come on, Nerissa; I have work in hand 
That you yet know not of: we'll see our husbands 
Before they think of us. 

Ner. Shall they see us? 

Por. They shall, Nerissa; but in such a habit , 1 c 
That they shall think we are accomplished 
With that we lack. I hold thee any wager, 
When we are both accoutred like young men, 
I '11 prove the prettier fellow of the two, 
And wear my dagger with the braver gra< ( 5 

And speak between the change of man and boy 
With a reed voice, and turn two mincing steps 
Into a manly stride, and speak of frays 
Like a fine bragging youth, and tell quaint ties, 
How honorable ladies sought my love, 70 

Which I denying, they fell sick and died; 
I could not do withal; then I'll repent, 
And wish, for all that, I had not kill'd them; 
And twenty of these puny lies I'll tell, 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 71 

That men shall swear I have discontinued school 7 5 
Above a twelvemonth. I have within my mind 
A thousand raw tricks of these bragging Jacks, 
Which I will practice. 

But come, I'll tell thee all my whole device 
When I am in my coach, which stays for us So 
At the park gate; and therefore haste away, 
For we must measure twenty miles to-day, 

[Exeunt. 

Scene V. The same. A garden. 

Enter Launcelot, Lorenzo, and Jessica. 

Lor. Go in, sirrah; bid them prepare for dinner. 

Laun. That is done, sir; they have all stomachs. 

Lor. Good Lord, what a wit-snapper are you! 
then bid them prepare dinner. 

Laun. That is done too, sir; only " cover" is the 
word. 6 

Lor. Will you cover then, sir? 

Laun. Not so, sir, neither; I know my duty. 

Lor. Yet more quarrelling with occasion! Wilt 
thou show the whole wealth of thy wit in an instant ? 
I pray thee, understand a plain man in his plain 
meaning: go to thy fellows; bid them cover the table, 
serve in the meat, and we will come in to dinner. 13 

Laun. For the table, sir, it shall be served in; 
for the meat, sir, it shall be covered; for your coming 
in to dinner, sir, why, let it be as humors and conceits 
shall govern. [Exit. 

Lor. O dear discretion, how his words are suited ! 
The fool hath planted in his memory 
An army of good words; and I do know 20 



72 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

A many fools, that stand in better place, 
Garnish 'd like him, that for a tricksy word 
Defy the matter. How cheer'st thou, Jessica? 
And now, good sweet, say thy opinion, 
How dost thou like the Lord Bassanio's wife? 25 

Jes. Past all expressing. It is very meet 
The Lord Bassanio live an upright life; 
For, having such a blessing in his lady, 
He finds the joys of heaven here on earth; 
And if on earth he do not mean it, then 30 

In reason he should never come to heaven. 
Why, if two gods should play some heavenly match 
And on the wager lay two earthly women, 
And Portia one, there must be something else 
Pawn'd with the other, for the poor rude world 35 
Hath not her fellow. 

Lor. Even such a husband 

Hast thou of me as she is for a wife. 

Jes. Nay, but ask my opinion too of that. 

Lor. I will anon: first, let us go to dinner. 

Jes. Nay, let me praise you while I have a 
stomach. 40 

Lor. No, pray thee, let it serve for table-talk; 
Then, howsoe'er thou speak'st, 'mong other things 
I shall digest it. 

Jes. Well, I'll set you forth. [Exeunt. 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 73 

ACT IV. 

Scene I. Venice. A court of justice. 

Enter the Duke, the Magnificoes, Antonio, Bas- 
sanio, Gratiano, Salerio, and others. 

Duke. What, is Antonio here? 

Ant. Ready, so please your grace. 

Duke. I am sorry for thee: thou art come to 
answer 
A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch 
Uncapable of pity, void and empty 5 

From any dram of mercy. 

Ant. I have heard 

Your grace hath ta'en great pains to qualify 
His rigorous course; but since he stands obdurate 
And that no lawful means can carry me 
Out of his envy's reach, I do oppose 10 

My patience to his fury, and am arm'd 
To suffer, with a quietness of spirit, 
The very tyranny and rage of his. 

Duke. Go one, and call the Jew into court. 

Saler. He is ready at the door: he comes, my 
lord. 15 

Enter Shylock. 

Duke. Make room, and let him stand before our 
face. 
Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too, 
That thou but lead'st this fashion of thy malice 
To the last hour of act; and then 'tis thought 
Thou 'It show thy mercy and remorse more strange 



74 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

Than is thy strange apparent cruelty; 21 

And where thou now exact'st the penalty, 
Which is a pound of this poor merchant's flesh, 
Thou wilt not only lose the forfeiture, 
But, touch 'd with human gentleness and love, 25 
Forgive a moiety of the principal; 
Glancing an eye of pity on his losses, 
That have of late so huddled on his back, 
Enow to press a royal merchant down 
And pluck commiseration of his state 30 

From brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint, 
From stubborn Turks and Tartars, never train'd 
To offices of tender courtesy. 
We all expect a gentle answer, Jew. 
Shy. I have possess 'd your grace of what I pur- 
pose 3$ 
And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn 
To have the due and forfeit of my bond: 
If you deny it, let the danger light 
Upon your charter and your city's freedom. 
You'll ask me, why I rather choose to have 4c 
A weight of carrion flesh than to receive 
Three thousand ducats: I'll not answer that: 
But, say, it is my humor: is it answer'd? 
What if my house be troubled with a rat, 
And I be pleased to give ten thousand ducats 45 
To have it baned ? What, are you answer'd yet ? 
Some men there are love not a gaping pig; 
Some, that are mad if they behold a cat; 
Some, when they hear the bag-pipe: for affection, 
Mistress of passion, sways it to the mood 50 
Of what it likes or loathes. Now, for your answer: 
As there is no firm reason to be render'd, 
Why he cannot abide a gaping pig; 
Why he, a harmless necessary cat; 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 75 

Why he, a woollen hag-pipe; but of force 55 

Must yield to such inevitable shame 

As to offend, himself being offended; 

So can I give no reason, nor I will not, 

More than a lodged hate and a certain loathing 

I bear xAntonio, that I follow thus 60 

A losing suit against him. Are you answer'd? 

Bass. This is no answer, thou unfeeling man. 
To excuse the current of thy cruelty. 
Shy. I am not bound to please thee with my 

answers. 
Bass. Do all men kill the things they do not love ? 
Shy. Hates any man the thing he would not 
kill? 66 

Bass. Every offence is not a hate at first. 
Shy. What, wouldst thou have a serpent sting 

thee twice? 
Ant. I pray you, think you question with the Jew : 
You may as well go stand upon the beach 7° 

And bid the main flood bate his usual height; 
Yoiumay as well use question with the wolf 
Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb; 
You may as well forbid the mountain pines 
To wag their high tops and to make no noise, 75 
When they are fretted with the gusts of heaven; 
You may as well do anything most hard, 
As seek to soften that — than which what's harder ? — 
His Jewish heart: therefore, I do beseech you, 
Make no more offers, use no further means, 80 

But with all brief and plain conveniency 
Let me have judgment and the Jew his will. 

Bass. For my three thousand ducats here are six. 
Shy. If every ducat in six thousand ducats 
Were in six parts and every part a ducat, 85 

I would not draw them; I would have my bond. 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
Duke. How shalt thou hope for mercy, rendering 



none 



Shy. What judgment shall I dread, doing no 
wrong ? 
You have among you many a purchased slave, 
Which, like your asses and your dogs and mules, 90 
You use in abject and in slavish parts, 
Because you bought them: shall I say to you, 
Let them be free, marry them to your heirs? 
Why sweat they under burthens ? let their beds 
Be made as soft as yours and let their palates 95 
Be season'd with such viands? You will answer 
"The slaves are ours:" so do I answer you: 
The pound of flesh, which I demand of him, 
Is dearly bought; 'tis mine and I will have it. 
If you deny me, fie upon your law! 100 

There is no force in the decrees of Venice. 
I stand for judgment: answer; shall I have it? 

Duke. Upon my power I may dismiss this court. 
Unless Bellario, a learned doctor, 
Whom I have sent for to determine this, , 105 

Come here to-day. 

Salar. My lord, here stays without 

A messenger with letters from the doctor, 
New come from Padua. 

Duke. Bring us the letters; call the messenger. 

Bass. Good cheer, Antonio! What, man, cour- 
age yet! no 
The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones, and all, 
Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood. 

Ant. I am a tainted wether of the flock, 
Meetest for death: the weakest kind of fruit 
Drops earliest to the ground; and so let me: 115 
You cannot better be employ'd, Bassanio, 
Than to live still and write mine epitaph. 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 77 

Enter Nerissa, dressed like a lawyer's clerk. 

Duke. Came you from Padua, from Bellario ? 

Ner. From both, my lord. Bellario greets your 
grace. [Presenting a letter. 

Bass. Why dost thou whet thy knife so earn- 
estly? 120 

Shy. To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt 
there. 

Gra. Not on thy sole, but on thy soul, harsh Jew, 
Thou makest thy knife keen; but no metal can, 
No, not the hangman's axe, bear half the keenness 
Of thy sharp envy. Can no prayers pierce thee ? 125 

Shy. No, none that thou hast wit enough to make. 

Gra. O, be thou damn'd, inexecrable dog! 
And for thy life let justice be accused. 
Thou almost makest me waver in my faith 
To hold opinion with Pythagoras, 130 

That souls of animals infuse themselves 
Into the trunks of men: thy currish spirit 
Govern'd a wolf, who, hang'd for human slaughter, 
Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet, 
And, whilst thou lay'st in thy unhallow'd dam, 135 
Infused itself in thee; for thy desires 
Are wolfish j bloody, starved and ravenous. 

Shy. Till thou canst rail the seal from off my 
bond, 
Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud: 
Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall 140 

To cureless ruin. I stand here for law. 

Duke. This letter from Bellario doth commend 
A young and learned doctor to our court. 
Where is he? 

Ner. He attendeth here hard by, 

To know your answer, whether you'll admit him. 



78 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

Duke. With all my heart. Some three or four 
of you 146 

Go give him courteous conduct to this place. 
Meantime the court shall hear Bellario's letter. 

Clerk. [Reads.] Your grace will understand that 
at the receipt of your letter I am very sick: but in the 
instant that your messenger came, in loving visitation 
was with me a young doctor of Rome; his name is 
Balthasar. I acquainted him with the cause of the 
controversy between the Jew and Antonio the mer- 
chant: we turned o'er many books together: he is 
furnished with my opinion; which, bettered with his 
own learning, the greatness whereof I cannot enough 
commend comes with him, at my importunity, to fill 
up your grace's request in my stead. I beseech you, , 
let his lack of years be no impediment to let him lack 
a reverend estimation; for I never knew so young a 
body with so old a head. I leave him to your 
gracious acceptance, whose trial shall better publish | 
his commendation. 

Duke. You hear the learn'd Bellario, what he 
writes: 165 

And here, I take it, is the doctor come. 

Enter Portia, dressed like a doctor of laws. 

Give me your hand. Came you from old Bellario ? 

Par. I did, my lord. 

Duke. You are welcome: take your place. 

Are you acquainted with the difference 
That holds this present question in the court? 170 

Par. I am informed throughly of the cause. 
Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew ? 

Duke. Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth. 

Por. Is your name Shylock? 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 79 

Shy. Shylock is my name. 

Por. Of a strange nature is the suit you follow; 
Yet in such rule that the Venetian law 176 

Cannot impugn you as you do proceed. 
You stand within his danger, do you not ? 

Ant. Ay, so he says. 

Por Do you confess the bond ? 

Ant. I do. 

Por. Then must the Jew be merciful. 180 

Shy. On what compulsion must I ? tell me that. 

Por. The quality of mercy is not strain 'd; 
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven 
Upon the place beneath; it is twice blest; 
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes: 185 
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes 
The throned monarch better than his crown; 
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, 
The attribute to awe and majesty, 
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; 190 
But mercy is above this sceptred sway; 
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings. 
It is an attribute to God himself; 
And earthly power doth then show likest God's 
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, 195 
Though justice be thy plea, consider this, 
That, in the course of justice, none of us 
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy; 
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render 
The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much 200 
To mitigate the justice of thy plea; 
Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice 
Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there. 

Shy. My deeds upon my head! I crave the law, 
The penalty and forfeit of my bond. 205 

Por. Is he not able to discharge the money? 



80 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

Bass. Yes, here I tender it for him in the court; 
Yea, twice the sum: if that will not suffice, 
I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er, 
On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart: 210 
If this will not suffice, it must appear 
That malice bears down truth. And I beseech you 
Wrest once the law to your authority: 
To do a great right, do a little wrong, 
And curb this cruel devil of his will. 215 

Por. It must not be; there is no power in Venice 
Can alter a decree established: 
'Twill be recorded for a precedent, 
And many an error by the same example 
Will rush into the state: it cannot be. 220 

Shy. A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel! 
O wise young judge, how I do honor thee! 

Por. I pray you, let me look upon the bond. 

Shy. Here 'tis, most reverend doctor, here it is. 

Por. Shylock, there's thrice thy money offer'd 
thee. 225 

Shy. An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven: 
Shall I lay perjury upon my soul? 
No, not for Venice. 

Por. Why, this bond is forfeit; 

And lawfully by this the Jew may claim 
A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off 230 

Nearest the merchant's heart. Be merciful: 
Take thrice thy money; bid me tear the bond. 

Shy. When it is paid according to the tenor. 
It doth appear you are a worthy judge; 
You know the law, your exposition 235 

Hath been most sound : I charge you by the law, 
Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar, 
Proceed to judgment: by my soul I swear 
There is no power in the tongue of man 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 81 

To alter me: I stay here on my bond. 240 

Ant. Most heartily I do beseech the court 
To give the judgment. 

Por. Why then, thus it is 

You must prepare your bosom for his knife. 

Shy. O noble judge! O excellent young man! 

Por. For the intent and purpose of the law 245 
Hath full relation to the penalty 
Which here appeareth due upon the bond. 

Shy. ; Tis very true: O wise and upright judge! 
How much more elder art thou than thy looks! 

Por. Therefore lay bare your bosom. 

Shy. Ay, his breast: 250 

So says the bond: doth it not, noble judge? 
" Nearest his heart": those are the very words. 

Por. It is so. Are there balance here to weigh 
The flesh? 

Shy. I have them ready. 

Por. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your 
charge, 255 

To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death. 

Shy. Is it so nominated in the bond? 

Por. It is not so express'd: but what of that? 
'Twere good you do so much for charity. 

Shy. I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond. 260 

Por. You, merchant, have you anything so say? 

Ant. But little: I am arm'd and well prepared. 
Give me your hand, Bassanio: fare you well! 
Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you; 
For herein Fortune shows herself more kind 265 
Than is her custom: it is still her use 
To let the wretched man outlive his wealth, 
To view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow 
An age of poverty; from which lingering penance 
Of such a misery doth she cut me off. 270 



82 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

Commend me to your honorable wife: 

Tell her the process of Antonio's end; 

Say how I loved you, speak me fair in death; 

And, when the tale is told, bid her be judge 

Whether Bassanio had not once a love. 275 

Repent but you that you shall lose your friend, 

And he repents not that he pays your debt; 

For if the Jew do cut but deep enough, 

I "11 pay it instantly with all my heart. 

Bass, Antonio, I am married to a wife 280 

Which is as dear to me as life itself; 
But life itself, my wife, and all the world, 
Are not with me esteem 'd above thy life: 
I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all 
Here to this devil, to deliver you. 285 

Por. Your wife would give you little thanks for 
that, 
[f she were by, to hear you make the offer. 

Gra. I have a wife, whom, I protest, I love: 
I would she were in heaven, so she could 
Entreat some power to change this currish Jew. 290 

Ner. 'Tis well you offer it behind her back; 
The wish would make else an unquiet house. 

Shy. [Aside.] These be the Christian husbands. 
I have a daughter; 
Mould any of the stock of Barrabas 
Had been her husband rather than a Christian! 295 
[Aloud.] We trifle time: I pray thee, pursue sen- 
tence. 

Por. A pound of that same merchant's flesh is 
thine: 
The court awards it, and the law doth give it. 

Shy. Most rightful judge! 

Por. And you must cut this flesh from off his 
breast: 300 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE S3 

The law allows it, and the court awards it. 

Shy. Most learned judge! A sentence! Come, 
prepare! 

Par. Tarry a little; there is something else. 
This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; 
The words expressly are "a pound of flesh:" 305 
Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh; 
But, in the cutting it, if thou dost shed 
One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods 
Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate 
Unto the state of Venice. 310 

Gra. O upright judge! Mark, Jew: O learned 
judge! 

Shy. Is that the law ? 

Por. Thyself shall see the act: 

For, as thou urgest justice, be assured 
Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desirest. 

Gra. O learned judge! Mark, Jew: a learned 
judge! 3*5 

Shy. I take this offer, then; pay the bond thrice 
And let the Christian go. 

Bass. Here is the money. 

Por. Soft! 
The Jew shall have all justice; soft! no haste: 
He shall have nothing but the penalty. 320 

Gra. O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge' 

Por. Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh. 
Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou less nor more 
But just a pound of flesh: if thou tak'st more 
Or less than a just pound, be it but so much 325 
As makes it light or heavy in the substance 
Or the division of the twentieth part 
Of one poor scruple, nay, if the scale do turn 
But in the estimation of a hair, 
Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate. 33c 



8 4 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

Gra. A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew! 
Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip. 

Por. Why doth the Jew pause? take thy for- 
feiture. 

Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go. 

Bass. I have it ready for thee; here it is. 335 

Por. He hath refused it in the open court: 
He shall have merely justice and his bond. 

Gra. A Daniel, still say I, a second Daniel! 
I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word. 

Shy. Shall I not have barely my principal ? 340 

Por. Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture, 
To be so taken at thy peril, Jew. 

Shy. Why, then the devil give him good of it! 
I'll stay no longer question. 

Por. Tarry, Jew: 

The law hath yet another hold on you. 345 

It is enacted in the laws of Venice, 
If it be proved against an alien 
That by direct or indirect attempts 
He seek the life of any citizen, 
The party 'gainst the which he doth contrive 350 
Shall seize one-half his goods; the other half 
Comes to the privy coffer of the state; 
And the offender's life lies in the mercy 
Of the duke only, 'gainst all other voice. 
In which predicament, I say, thou stand'st; 355 
For it appears, by manifest proceeding, 
That indirectly and directly too 
Thou hast contrived against the very life 
Of the defendant; and thou hast incurr'd 
The danger formerly by me rehearsed. 360 

Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke. 

Gra. Beg that thou may'st have leave to hang 
thyself: 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 85 

And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, 

Thou hast not left the value of a cord; 

Therefore thou must be hang'd at the state's charge. 

Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of our 
spirits, 366 

I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it: 
For half thy wealth, it is Antonio's; 
The other half comes to the general state, 
Which humbleness may drive unto a fine. 370 

Por. Ay, for the state, not for Antonio. 

Shy. Nay, take my life and all; pardon not that: 
You take my house when you do take the prop 
That doth sustain my house; you take my life 
When you do take the means whereby I live. 375 

Por. What mercy can you render him, Antonio ? 

Gra. A halter gratis; nothing else, for God's sake. 

Ant. So please my lord the duke and all the 
court 
To quit the fine for one-half of his goods 
I am content; so he will let me have 380 

The other half in use, to render it, 
Upon his death, unto the gentleman 
That lately stole his daughter: 
Two things provided more, that, for this favor, 
He presently become a Christian; 385 

The other, that he do record a gift, 
Here in the court, of all he dies possess'd, 
Unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter. 

Duke. He shall do this, or else I do recant 
The pardon that I late pronounced here. 390 

Por. Art thou contented, Jew? what dost thou 
say? 

Shy. I am content. 

Por. Clerk, draw a deed of gift. 

Shy. I pray you, give me leave to go from hence; 



86 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

I am not well: send the deed after me, 
And I will sign it. 

Duke. Get thee gone, but do it. 395 

Gra. In christening shalt thou have two god- 
fathers; 
Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten more 
To bring thee to the gallows, not the font. 

[Exit Shylock. 

Duke. Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner. 

For. I humbly do desire your grace of pardon : 
I must away this night toward Padua, 401 

And it is meet I presently set forth. 

Duke. I am sorry that your leisure serves you not. 
Antonio, gratify this gentleman, 
For, in my mind, you are much bound to him. 4° 5 
[Exeunt Duke and his train. 

Bass. Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend 
Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted 
Of grievous penalties; in lieu whereof, 
Three thousand ducats, due unto the Jew, 
We freely cope your courteous pains withal. 410 

Ant. And stand indebted, over and above, 
In love and service to you evermore. 

For. He is well paid that is well satisfied; 
And I, delivering you, am satisfied 
And therein do account myself well paid : 415 

My mind was never yet more mercenary. 
I pray you, know me when we meet again: 
I wish you well, and so I take my leave. 

Bass. Dear sir, of force I must attempt you 
further: 
Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute, 420 
Not as a fee: grant me two things, I pray you, 
Not to deny me, and to pardon me. 

Por. You press me far, and therefore I will yield. 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE S7 

[To Ant.] Give me your gloves, I'll wear them for 

your sake; 
[To Bass.] And, for your love, I'll take this ring 
from you: 425 

Do not draw back your hand; I'll take no more; 
And you in love shall not deny me this. 

Bass. This ring, good sir — alas, it is a trifle! 
I will not shame myself to give you this. 

Por. I will have nothing else but only this; 430 
And now methinks I have a mind to it. 

Bass. There 's more depends on this than on the 
value. 
The dearest ring in Venice will I give you, 
And find it out by proclamation: 
Only for this, I pray you, pardon me. 435 

For. I see, sir, you are liberal in offers : 
You taught me first to beg; and now methinks 
You teach me how a beggar should be answer'd. 

Bass. Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife ; 
And when she put it on, she made me vow 440 
That I should neither sell nor give nor lose it. 

Por. That 'scuse serves many men to save their 
gifts. 
An if your wife be not a mad-woman, 
And know how well I have deserved this ring, 
She would not hold out enemy for ever, 445 

For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you! 

[Exeunt Portia and Nerissa. 

Ant. My Lord Bassanio, let him have the ring: 
Let his deservings and my love withal 
Be valued 'gainst your wife's commandment. 

Bass. Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him; 450 
Give him the ring, and bring him, if thou canst, 
Unto Antonio's house: away! make haste. 

[Exit Gratiano. 



SS THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

Come, you and I will thither presently; 
And in the morning early will we both 
Fly toward Belmont: come, Antonio. 455 

[ExeunL 

Scene II. The same. A street. 

Enter Portia and Nerissa. 

Por. Inquire the Jew's house out, give him this 
deed 
And let him sign it: we'll away to-night 
And be a day before our husbands home: 
This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo. 

Enter Gratiano. 

Gra. Fair sir, you are well o'erta'en: 5 

My Lord Bassanio upon more advice 
Hath sent you here this ring, and doth entreat 
Your company at dinner. 

Por. That cannot be: 

His ring I do accept most thankfully: 
And so, I pray you, tell him: furthermore, 10 

I pray you, show my youth old Shvlock's house. 

Gra. That will I do. 

Ner. Sir, I would speak with you. 

[Aside to Por.] I'll see if I can get my husband's 

ring, 
Which I did make him swear to keep for ever. 

Por. [Aside to Ner.] Thou may'st, I warrant. 
We shall have old swearing 15 

That they did give the rings away to men; 
But we'll outface them, and outswear them too. 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 89 

[Aloud.] Away! make haste: thou know 'st where I 
will tarry. 
Ner. Come, good sir, will you show me to this 
house ? [Exeunt. 



ACT V. 

Scene I. Belmont. Avenue to Portia's house. 
Enter Lorenzo and Jessica. 

Lor. The moon shines bright: in such a night as 
this, 
When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees 
And they did make no noise, in such a night 
Troilus methinks mounted the Trojan walls 
And sigh'd his soul toward the Grecian tents, 5 
Where Cressid lay that night. 

Jes. In such a night 

Did Thisbe fearfully o'erstrip the dew, 
And saw the lion's shadow ere himself, 
And ran dismay'd away. 

Lor. In such a night 

Stood Dido with a willow in her hand 10 

Upon the wild sea banks, and waft her love 
To come again to Carthage. 

Jes. In such a night 

Medea gather'd the enchanted herbs 
That did renew old ^son. 

Lor. In such a night 

Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew 15 

And with an unthrift love did run from Venice 
As far as Belmont. 



9o THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

Jes. In such a night 

Did young Lorenzo swear he loved her well, 
Stealing her soul with many vows of faith 
And ne'er a true one. 

Lor. In such a night 20 

Did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew, 
Slander her love, and he forgave it her. 

Jes. I would out-night you, did no body come; 
But, hark, I hear the footing of a man. 

Enter Stephano. 

Lor. Who comes so fast in silence of the night ? 2 5 

Steph. A friend. 

Lor. A friend! what friend? your name, I pray 
you, friend? 

Steph. Stephano is my name; and I bring word 
My mistress will before the break of day 
Be here at Belmont: she doth stray about 30 

By holy crosses, where she kneels and prays 
For happy wedlock hours. 

Lor. Who comes with her? 

Steph. None but a holy hermit and her maid. 
I pray you, is my master yet return'd? 

Lor. He is not, nor we have not heard from him. 
But go we in, I pray thee, Jessica, 36 

And ceremoniously let us prepare 
Some welcome for the mistress of the house. 

Enter Launcelot. 

Laun. Sola, sola! wo ha, ho! sola, sola! 
Lor. Who calls? 40 

Laun. Sola! did you see Master Lorenzo ? Mas- 
ter Lorenzo, sola, sola! 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 91 

Lor. Leave hollaing, man: here. 

Laun. Sola! where? where? 

Lor. Here. 45 

Laun. Tell him there's a post come from my 
master, with his horn full of good news: my master 
will be here ere morning. [Exit. 

Lor. Sweet soul, let's in, and there expect their 
coming. 
And yet no matter: why should we go in? 50 

My friend Stephano, signify, I pray you, 
Within the house, your mistress is at hand; 
And bring your music forth into the air. 

[Exit Stephano. 
How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank! 
Here will we sit and let the sounds of music 55 
Creep in our ears: soft stillness and the night 
Become the touches of sweet harmony. 
Sit, Jessica. Look how the floor of heaven 
Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold: 
There 's not the smallest orb which thou behold 'st 60 
But in his motion like an angel sings, 
Still quiring to the young-eyed cherub ins; 
Such harmony is in immortal souls; 
But whilst this muddy vesture of decay 
Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it. 65 

Enter Musicians. 



Come, ho! and wake Diana with a hymn: 
With sweetest touches pierce your mistress' ear 
And draw her home with music. [Music. 

Jes. I am never merry when I hear sweet music. 

Lor. The reason is, your spirits are attentive: 70 
For do but note a wild and wanton herd, 



92 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

Or race of youthful and unhandled colts, 

Fetching mad bounds, bellowing and neighing loud, 

Which is the hot condition of their blood; 

If they but hear perchance a trumpet sound, 75 

Or any air of music touch their ears, 

You shall perceive them make a mutual stand, 

Their savage eyes turn'd to a modest gaze 

By the sweet power of music: therefore the poet 

Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones and 

floods ; 
Since nought so stockish, hard and full of rage, 81 
But music for the time doth change his nature. 
The man that hath no music in himself, 
Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, 
Is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils; 85 

The motions of his spirit are dull as night 
And his affections dark as Erebus: 
Let no such man be trusted. Mark the music. 



Enter Portia and Nerissa. 

Por. That light we see is burning in my hall. 
How far that little candle throws his beams! 90 
So shines a good deed in a naughty world. 

Ner. When the moon shone, we did not see the 
candle. 

Por. So doth the greater glory dim the less: 
A substitute shines brightly as a king 
Until a king be by, and then his state 95 

Empties itself, as doth an inland brook 
Into the main of waters. Music! hark! 

Ner. It is your music, madam, of the house. 

Por. Nothing is good, I see, without respect: 
Methinks it sounds much sweeter than by day. 100 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 93 

Ner. Silence bestows that virtue on it, madam. 

Por. The crow doth sing as sweetly as the lark 
When neither is attended, and I think 
The nightingale, if she should sing by day, 
When every goose is cackling, would be thought 
No better musician than the wren. 106 

How many things by season season'd are 
To their right praise and true perfection! 
Peace, ho! the moon sleeps with Endymion 
And would not be awaked. [Music ceases. 

Lor. That is the voice, 1 1 o 

Or I am much deceived, of Portia. 

Por. He knows me as the blind man knows the 
cuckoo, 
By the bad voice. 

Lor. Dear lady, welcome home. 

Por. We have been praying for our husband's 
healths, 
Which speed, we hope, the better for our words. 1 1 5 
Are they return 'd? 

Lor. Madam, they are not yet; 

But there is come a messenger before, 
To signify their coming. 

Por. Go in, Nerissa; 

Give order to my servants that they take 
No note at all of our being absent hence; 120 

Nor you, Lorenzo; Jessica, nor you. 

[A tucket sounds. 

Lor. Your husband is at hand; I hear his trum- 
pet: 
We are not tell-tales, madam; fear you not. 

Por. This night methinks is but the daylight 
sick; 
It looks a little paler: 'tis a day, 125 

Such as the day is when the sun is hid. 



94 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

Enter Bassanio, Antonio, Gratiano, and their 
followers. 

Bass. We should hold day with the Antipodes, 
If you would walk in absence of the sun. 

For. Let me give light, but let me not be light; 
For a light wife doth make a heavy husband, 130 
And never be Bassanio so for me: 
But God sort all! You are welcome home, my lord. 

Bass. I thank you, madam. Give welcome to my 
friend. 
This is the man, this is Antonio, 
To whom I am so infinitely bound. 135 

For. You should in all sense be much bound to 
him, 
For, as I hear, he was much bound for you. 

Ant. No more than I am well acquitted of. 

For. Sir, you are very welcome to our house: 
It must appear in other ways than words, 140 

Therefore I scant this breathing courtesy. 

Gra. [^ Ner.] By yonder moon I swear you do 
me wrong; 
In faith, I gave it to the judge's clerk: 
Would he were dead that had it, for my part, 
Since you do take it, love, so much at heart. 145 

For. A quarrel, ho, already! what's the matter? 

Gra. About a hoop of gold, a paltry ring 
That she did give to me, whose posy was 
For all the world like cutler's poetry 
Upon a knife, "Love me, and leave me not." 150 

Ner. What talk you of the posy or the value ? 
You swore to me, when I did give it you, 
That you would wear it till your hour of death, 
And that it should lie with you in your grave: 
Though not for me, yet for your vehement oaths, 1 5 5 



THE MERCHANT OF YE: 



95 



You should have been respective and have kept it. 
Gave it a judge's clerk! no, God's my judge, 
The clerk will ne'er wear hair on's face that had it. 

Gra. He will, an if he live to be a man. 

Ner. Ay, if a woman live to be a man. 160 

Gra. Now by this hand, I gave it to a youth, 
A kind of boy, a little scrubbed boy, 
No higher than thyself, the judge's clerk, 
A prating boy, that begg'd it as a fee: 
I could not for my heart deny it him. 165 

Por. You were to blame, I must be plain with you, 
To part so lightly with your wife's first gift; 
A thing stuck on with oaths upon your finger 
And riveted with faith unto your flesh. 
I gave my love a ring and made him swear 170 
Never to part with it; and here he stands; 
I dare be sworn for him he would not leave it, 
Nor pluck it from his finger, for the wealth 
That the world masters. Now, in faith, Gratiano. 
You give your wife too unkind cause of grief: 175 
An 'twere to me, I should be mad at it. 

Bass. [Aside.] Why, I were best to cut my left 
hand off, 
And swear I lost the ring defending it. 

Gra. My Lord Bassanio gave his ring away 
Unto the judge that begg'd it and indeed 180 

Deserved it too: and then the boy, his clerk, 
That took some pains in writing, he begg'd mine; 
And neither man nor master would take aught 
But the two rings. 

Por. What ring gave you, my lord? 

Not that, I hope, which you received of me. 185 

Bass. If I could add a lie unto a fault, 
I would deny it; but you see my finger 
Hath not the ring upon it; it is gone. 



96 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

Por. Even so void is your false heart of truth. 
By heaven, I will never be your wife 190 

Until I see the ring. 

Ner. No, nor I yours 

Till I again see mine. 

Bass. Sweet Portia, 

If you did know to whom I gave the ring, 
If you did know for whom I gave the ring, 195 
And would conceive for what I gave the ring, 
And how unwillingly I left the ring, 
When nought would be accepted but the ring, 
You would abate the strength of your displeasure. 

Por. If you had known the virtue of the ring, 
Or half her worthiness that gave the ring, 200 

Or your own honor to contain the ring, 
You would not then have parted with the ring. 
What man is there so much unreasonable, 
If you had pleased to have defended it 
With any terms of zeal, wanted the modesty 205 
To urge the thing held as a ceremony? 
Nerissa teaches me what to believe: 
I '11 die for 't but some woman had the ring. 

Bass. No, by my honor, madam, by my soul, 
No woman had it, but a civil doctor, 210 

Which did refuse three thousand ducats of me 
And begg'd the ring; the which I did deny him, 
And suffer'd him to go displeased away; 
Even he that did uphold the very life 
Of my dear friend. What should I say, sweet 

lady? 
I was enforced to send it after him; 216 

I was beset with shame and courtesy; 
My honor would not let ingratitude 
So much besmear it. Pardon me, good lady; 
For, by these blessed candles of the night, 220 



THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 97 

Had you been there, I think you would have begg'd 
The ring of me to give the worthy doctor. 

Ant. I am the unhappy subject of these quarrels. 

Por. Sir, grieve not you; you are welcome not- 
withstanding. 

Bass. Portia, forgive me this enforced wrong; 225 
And, in the hearing of these many friends, 
I swear to thee, even by thine own fair eyes, 
Wherein I see myself — 

Por. Mark you but that! 

In both my eyes he doubly sees himself; 
In each eye, one: swear by your double self, 230 
And there's an oath of credit. 

Bass. Nay, but hear me: 

Pardon this fault, and by my soul I swear 
I never more will break an oath with thee. 

Ant. I once did lend my body for his wealth; 
Which, but for him that had your husband's ring, 
Had quite miscarried: I dare be bound again, 236 
My soul upon the forfeit, that your lord 
Will never more break faith advisedly. 

Por. Then you shall be his surety. Give him 
this, 
And bid him keep it better than the other. 240 

Ant. Here, Lord Bassanio; swear to keep this 
ring. 

Bass. By heaven, it is the same I gave the doctor I 

Por. You are all amazed: 
Here is a letter: read it at your leisure; 
It comes from Padua, from Bellario: 245 

There you shall find that Portia was the doctor, 
Nerissa there her clerk: Lorenzo here 
Shall witness I set forth as soon as you, 
And even but now return'd: I have not yet 
Enter'd my house. Antonio, you are welcome; 



98 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

And I have better news in store for you 251 

Than you expect: unseal this letter soon; 

There you shall find three of your argosies 

Are richly come to harbor suddenly: 

You shall not know by what strange accident 255 

I chanced on this letter. 

Ant. I am dumb. 

Bass. Were you the doctor, and I knew you not ? 

Gra. Were you the clerk, and yet I knew you not ? 

Ant. Sweet lady, you have given me life and 
living; 
For here I read for certain that my ships 260 

Are safely come to road. 

Por. How now, Lorenzo! 

My clerk hath some good comforts too for you. 

Ner. Ay, and I'll give them him without a fee. 
There do I give to you and Jessica, 
From the rich Jew, a special deed of gift, 265 

After his death, of all he dies possess'd of. 

Lor. Fair ladies, you drop manna in the way 
Of starved people. 

Por. It is almost morning, 

And yet I am sure you are not satisfied 
Of these events at full. Let us go in; 270 

And charge us there upon inter'gatories, 
And we will answer all things faithfully. 

Gra. Well, while I live I'll fear no other thing 
So sore as keeping safe Nerissa's ring. [Exeunt. 



NOTES 

ACT I. 

Scene I. 

i In sooth . In truth, truly. 

i Sad. Serious, melancholy rather than actual grief. 
It seems to be introduced as a kind of presentiment of coming 
trouble. Furness says: 

"Shakespeare foresaw the difficulty of representing a 
merchant, royal among merchants, as executing a bond so 
hazardous in its conditions that any child would shrink from 
signing it, and therefore introduced him as of so changeable 
a mood that he was borne down by a nameless melancholy 
and utterly unlike himself; and if to this we add the appella- 
tion of 'Want-wit,' which he gives himself, we have the ele- 
ments of character that are needed, in the scene with Shy- 
lock, to give an air of consistency in the sealing to the bond. 
This melancholy, then, is after all, a keynote to the play, but 
not as portending disasters or as preluding a tragedy." 

3 Came by. Acquired. 

5 To learn. An abbreviated expression; 1 am still 
under the necessity of leaving. 

6 Wanl-wii. Foolish, lacking good sense. Wit often 
means good sense in Shakespeare. 

7 Ado. Difficult}' in recognizing myself. 

8 Ocean. Pronounced in three syllables. 

9 Argosies. Large merchant vessels, so called from 
Ragusa, a port in Italy, which sent out many trading vessels, 
especially to England. 

9 Portly. Swelling with the wind. 

io Signiors. Gentlemen, men of rank; an Italian word. 

io Burghers. Citizens, men of some property. 

ir Pagea-nis. Shows; these vessels resembled the imi- 



ioo THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

tations of castles, ships, dragons, and so on, that were often 
■exhibited at fairs and other shows. 

12 Over peer. Look down upon with condescension. 

12 Petty traffickers. Smaller ships. 

13 Curtsy. Furness says that curtsy is "suggested by 
the rocking, ducking motion in the petty traffickers caused 
by the wake of the argosy as it sails by them. 

14 Woven ivings. Sails. 

15 Venture forth. Wealth risked in foreign trade. 
Foreign merchants at this time were called merchant ad- 
venturers. 

1 7 Hopes. The chances of my trade. 

17 Still. Always; the usual meaning of the word in 
Shakespeare. 

18 Plucking the grass. That is, holding up a blade of 
grass to see which way the wind would blow it. 

18 Sits. Shakespeare frequently uses the word in this 
way with wind. 

19 Piers Harbors. 

19 Roads. Roadsteads, or stretches of water where 
ships could be anchored at some distance from the land. 
21 Out of doubt. Beyond doubt, undoubtedly. 
21 To. Into a fever by reminding one of a wind at sea. 

25 Hour-glass. A glass made in two compartments 
and filled with sand, used to tell time before the invention 
of clocks. The sand was timed to run from one compart- 
ment into the other in exactly an hour. In Shakespeare's 
day such a glass always stood near the pulpit in a church; 

26 Flats. Sand banks near the surface of the water. 

27 Andrew. This may be simply the name of the ship, 
but more probably it was a popular name for any ship; de- 
rived from Andrea Doria, a famous admiral of Genoa. 

27 Dock'd. That is, fixed fast in a sand bank as a ship 
is in a dock. 

28 Vailing. Sinking, lowering. 

28 High-top. The top of her main-mast. 

28 Ribs. The timbers forming the framework of the 
hull. 

29 Burial. The place of her burial. 

31 Bethink. Call to mind, remind myself. 

31 Straight. Straightway, immediately. 

32 But. Merely touching. 

32 Gentle. Gentle in comparison with the dangerous 
rocks. 



NOTES 101 

35 Even now. And I, at one moment with all this 
wealth, should in the next be worth nothing. 

36 Thought. Imagination. 

38 Bechanced. If such a thing should happen. 

40 To think. In thinking. 

41 Fortune. Good luck. 

42 Bottom. Ship. He speaks of the bottom, or hold 
of the vessel, where the goods were stored, as if it were the 
ship itself. 

44 Upon. Risked, depend upon the chances of one 
year. 

47 Neither. Double negatives are frequent in Shakes- 
peare. 

50 Janus. A Roman god, the gate-keeper of heaven 
and the guardian deity of all gates. As a gate locks two ways 
he was represented with two heads. His festival fell on 
New Year's day; hence the name January. On this ac- 
count, also, he is often represented with one face old and 
wrinkled, the other young and laughing. This fact explains 
the following lines in the text. 

52 Evermore. Always keep their eyes half shut as one 
does in laughing. 

53 Parrots. As foolishly as parrots. 

53 Bag-piper. The bag-pipe is a wind instrument, 
having a peculiarly shrill and reedy sound, used in Scotland 
and some parts of England. 

54 Other. Others. 

54 Aspect. Accent on last syllable; sour looks. 

56 Nestor. The king of Pylos, a Greek famous for his 
wisdom and gravity. 

57 Comes. When the verb comes first in the sentence 
it is often singular, though followed, as here, by a plural 
subject. 

58 Fare. From the old English jar an, to go; hence, 
may you go well. 

61 Prevented. Anticipated me; as we should say, 
got ahead of me. 

63 Calls. Demands attention. 

64 Embrace. Seize the opportunity. 

65 Morrow. Morning. 

67 Strange. That is, "You let us see very little of you; 
must you really go?" 

68 Attend. Keep company with; we will make our 
leisure time accord with vours. 



io2 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

71 Have in mind. Keep, remember. 

74 Respect upon. You think too much about worldly 
affairs. 

75 It. Worldly matters; those that think too much about 
worldly matters lose time and strength to no purpose. 

78 Stage. Compare As You Like It, 11. vn. 139-66. 
80 Old wrinkles. The wrinkles of old age. 
82 Mortifying. Causing death; groans were supposed 
to drain the blood. 

84 Alabaster. A fine white rock like marble, largely 
used for tombs and effigies. 

85 Jaundice. A disease which causes the skin to be- 
come sallow. It is a fact that this disease is often caused 
by depression, bad news, peevishness, and other emotions. 

89 Cream and mantle. Are so still that they become 
covered with scum and vegetation. 

90 Wilful stillness. An obstinate reserve. 

91 Purpose. For the purpose of. 

91 Opinion. Gaining a reputation for wisdom, etc. 

92 Conceit. Thought, that which is conceived. 

93 As who. As if one should say. 

93 Sir Oracle. Sir was sometimes a title of respect; 
sometimes of contemptuous familiarity, although in the 
latter case the form was usually sirrah. An oracle is one 
whose words are supposed to be inspired by a god. 

96 Therefore. That is, for saying nothing. 

96 Wise. "Even a fool when he holdeth his peace is 
counted wise; and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a 
man of understanding." — Proverbs, xvn. 28. 

98 Damn. Their hearers would call them fools and so 
bring themselves into condemnation. Compare Matthew, 
v. 22. Whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca (vain 
fellow), shall be in danger of the council; but whosoever 
shall say, thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fare." 

102 Fool. Foolish, worthless. 

102 Gudgeon. A kind of fish easily caught but worth- 
less. 

102 Opinion- Reputation. 

108 Moe. An olden form of more. 

no Gear. Matter; because of what you have just 
said. 

112 Ned's tongue. The tongue of an ox. 

113 Thing. Is there any sense in his words; where's 
the joke? 



NOTES I03 

119 Same. The one, that. 

123 Disabled. Impaired, injured. 

124 Something. To some extent displaying. 

124 Swelling part. A more magnificent style of living. 

125 Faint means. Slender income. 

125 Continuance. Enable me to keep up. 

126 Abridged. Complain because I must cut down my 
expenses. 

127 Rate. Lavishness. 

128 Fairly. Clear myself honorably. 

129 Time. Youthful lavishness. 

130 Gaged. Pledged, involved. 

132 Warranty. Sanction, justification for. 

133 Plots. Plans. 

135 It. That is, "plots and purposes." 

136 Still. Always. 

137 Honor. Within the scope of what I should call 
honorable. 

138 Extremest. The utmost that I have to give. 

139 Occasions. Necessities; pronounced in four sylla- 
bles. 

140. Shaft. Arrow. 

141 Self -same flight. An arrow of the same size, and 
therefore having the same range. 

142 Advised. Noting its flight more carefully. 

143 Forth. Out. 

144 Childhood. Childish experiment. 

145 Pure innocence. Is just as innocent and free from 
trickery, as the experiment with the arrow. 

148 ' Self. Same. 

150. As. For I will so watch the aim as to, etc. 

151 Or. Either. 

151 Hazard. The money which last risked. 

153 Herein. In using so many words, "beating about 
the bush." 

154 To wind. In trying to wind. 

154 Circumstance. Circumlocution, many words. 

155 Out of. Without. 

156 Uttermost. In doubting that I will do my utmost 
for you. 

159 Knowledge. That you know I can do. 

160 Prest. Ready to do it. 

161 Richly left. An orphan of wealth. 
163 Sometimes. In past times, formerly. 



104 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

164 Speechless. Kind looks. 

165 Undervalued to. Not inferior to. 

166 Cato's daughter. The wife of Brutus, one of the 
murderers of Julius Caesar. She was the daughter of Cato,. 
a famous Roman statesman, and was possessed of great 
virtue and courage. She is one of the characters in Shakes- 
peare's Julius Ccesar. 

170 Golden fleece. The golden fleece, according to 
Greek legend, hung in the grove of Ares, god of war, in Col- 
chis, on the shore of the Black Sea, and was guarded by a 
dragon. 

171 Strand. Shore. 

172 Jasons. Jason was the son of the king of Iolcus. 
His uncle had usurped the throne, but promised to give it up 
if Jason would bring him the golden fleece. Jason built 
a ship, called the Argo, and with many heroes, sailed to 
Colchis, where with the aid of Media, daughter of the king 
of that country, he succeeded in securing the fleece. 

172 Quest. Search. 

174 Rival. To take my place among them as an equaL 

175 Presages. Which foretells. 

175 Thrift. Thriving, success. 

176 Questionless. Without doubt. 

178 Commodity. Merchandise on which money could 
be raised. 

179 Present. Immediate. 

180 Credit. What money you can borrow on my credit* 

181 Rack'd. Stretched out, strained. 

182 Furnish. Supply you with the means of going as 
a suitor. 

183 Presently. Instantly. 

184 Is. Is to be borrowed. 

185 Of my trust, etc. Either on my credit as a business 
man, or as a personal favor. 

185 Sake. The rhymed couplets at the end of scenes 
were introduced, it is supposed, as a signal to the musicians, 
and the audience that the scene was ended. 



NOTES 105 

Scene II. 

1 Troth. Faith what I hold true; upon my word. 

2 Aweary. The a is a corruption of the intensive of 
in Anglo-Saxon. 

6 Surfeit. Are surfeited, overloaded. 

7 Mean. Placed midway between wealth and poverty; 
the word is a pun on mean (slight). 

9 By white hairs. Acquired signs of age sooner on ac- 
count of self-indulgence. 

9 Competency. One in moderate circumstances. 
j 10 Sentences. Wise sayings, maxims. 

12 Were. The conditional mode, would be. 

13 Chapels. A small church situated in an outlying 
division of a parish. The word is derived from the "cappella 
or cloak of St. Martin, preserved by the Frankish kings as a 
sacred relic, which was borne before them in battle, and used 
to give sanctity in oaths, the name was applied to the sanctu- 
ary in which this was preserved under the care of its cappelain 
or chaplains, and thence generally to a sanctuary containing 
holy relics, attached to a palace, etc., and so to any private 
sanctuary or holy place, and finally to any apartment or 
building for orisons or worship, not being a church, the earlier 
name for which was Oratorium." — Murray 

18 Blood. Emotional nature. 

19 Decree. The dictate of reason. 

19 Youth. That is, so headstrong youth, like a hare, 
lightly passes over the good advice by which sober age would 
restrain it. The figure is borrowed from the hunter laying 
a snare for the swift-footed game. 

21 Fashion. Is not of a kind to help me in choosing. 

23 Would. Desire. 

24 Will. Desire, preference. 

25 Will. A legal testament; a play is intended on will 
in the line above. 

26 None. Another case of the double negative; we 
should now say "or refuse any." 

28 Inspiration. It was a common belief that the words 
of the dying were supernaturally inspired. 

29 Lottery. The caskets by which you must be chosen, 
which resemble the chances in a lottery. 

31 Meaning. Of which three caskets, he who chooses 
the one that your father intended to be chosen, by that choice 
wins you. 



106 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

32 One. By one, 

32 Who. We should now say whom. 

33 Affection. Inclination, attitude of mind. 
35 Over-name. Name them one by one. 
37 Level. Guess. 

39 Colt. Wild, headstrong youth. 

40 Appropriation. Addition; something that redounds 
to his credit. 

41 Parts. Qualities. 

43 County Palatine. Count and County are both used 
in the same sense by Shakespeare. The latter form of the 
word we still have in county or shire, originally the domain 
of a Count. Count Palatine was one who ruled over land 
belonging to the king's domain, in return for services done 
by his house to the throne. 

47 Weeping philosophers. A certain Greek, Heraclitus 
of Ephesus, was so called on account of the extreme austerity 
of his life. 

49 Death's head. An allusion to the skull and cross- 
bones so often carved on tombstones. 

52 By. In reference to, concerning. 

54 God made him, etc. A popular expression found in 
other plays. 

57 Better bad. A frown that surpasses that of the Count 
Palatine. 

58 Every man. He imitates everylxniy, and has no 
mind of his own. 

59 Throstle. The English name for thrush. 

59 A capering. A is a corruption of the old preposition 
"on" used after verbs of motion. 

69 Pennyworth. A very small amount. 

70 Proper man's picture. The picture of a handsome 
man. See Hebrews, xi. 23: "By faith Moses, when he 
was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they 
saw he was a proper child." 

72 Suited. Dressed. 

72 Doublet. A close-fitting garment, covering the body 
from the neck to the waist. 

73 Hose. Clothes that went from the waist to the knees. 
They were called round, because they were puffed out in 
globe-like shape. 

73 Bonnet. Head-gear; used now only for a woman, 
or the cap worn by the Scotch Highlander. 

78 Borrowed a box. He received a box on the ear from 



NOTES 107 

the Englishman, which, though freely given, he pretended 
that he meant to repay some time. 

80 Surety. The Frenchman bound himself to see that 
the promise was carried out. 

81 Sealed under. He put his seal under that of the 
Scotchman for whom he became surety. 

88 Make shift. To contrive to do without. 

91 Should. We now say, "You would refuse." 

94 Rhenish. A white wine, similar to the modern 
Hock. It is produced in the Rhine valley. 

94 Contrary. The casket that does not contain the 
picture. 

100 Determinations. As each one had decided to do. 

103 Im-position. The condition laid down by the father. 

104 Sibylla. A name by which various prophetic women 
were known. They are supposed to have lived to a great 
age. The most famous, and the one intended here, was the 
Cumasan Sibyl, who guided ^Eneas to the under world. 

105 Diana. The Roman goddess of the hunt. She 
was never married, and is regarded as the type of purity. 

106 Parcel. Lot. It is used here as a noun of multi- 
tude, and is thus followed by a plural verb. 

108 Very absence. Long for his going away. 
122 Forerunner. A messenger who has brought word 
of the coming of the Prince of Morocco from Africa. 
125 So good a heart. With such pleasure. 

127 Condition. Disposition, character. 

128 Complexion. Portia here refers to the fact of the 
Prince's being a Moor, hence black. 

129 Shrive. She would rather he should be her father- 
confessor, and give her absolution for her sin, than that he 
should be her husband. 

130 Sirrah. This word is equivalent to fellow, or sir, 
spoken with contemptuous force. Here Portia addresses 
the servant. 

Scene III. 

1 Ducats. A ducat was a coin so called from its being 
issued in a Duchy. In Venice it was worth about one dollar. 

6 Bound. To become responsible for the payment of 
the loan. 

7 Stead me. Aid me. 

13 Imputation. Charge. 



108 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

17 Sufficient. Competent. 

17 Supposition. His wealth is not a matter of certainty, 
but dependent upon conditions. 

18 Argosy. A large merchant vessel, especially one 
carrying a rich freight. 

18 Tripolis. This is not the city in Barbary in Northern 
Africa, but the sea-port in Syria. It was on the way from 
Venice to the East, by the "Euphrates Valley route." In 
Crusading times it was a famous port, and traded with 
Venice in glass. 

19 The Indies. The West Indies of America. See 
Twelfth Night, Act III., Scene II., line 85. "He does smile 
his face into more lines than is in the new map with the 
augmentation of the Indies." 

19 Rialto. The meeting-place or "exchange" of the 
merchants. This name was also given to an island and to 
the bridge connecting this island with the St. Mark's quarter 
of Venice. 

21 Squandered. Scattered recklessly. This use of the 
word is rare. 

24 Pirates. By this of course he refers only to the water- 
thieves. These were probably the Barbary pirates, who in- 
fested the Mediterranean until the bombardment of Algiers 
by Lord Exmouth in 18 16. 

29 Will be assured. He intends to make sure for him- 
self that he may. 

33. Pork. Held in abomination by Jews. 

33 Habitation. When Christ cast out the devils by 
which two men were possessed, he caused them to enter 
into a herd of swine. See MattJiew vm. 28-32. 

34 Nazarite. For Nazarene, or inhabitant of Nazareth. 
The term Nazarite is now used only of those who bound 
themselves by a vow not to touch wine, but in Shakespeare's 
day it also meant an inhabitant of Nazareth, and is used 
thus in versions of the Bible previous to that of 161 1. 

40 Fawning publican. Shylock here expresses his con- 
tempt for the Roman tax-gatherers. 

42 Low simplicity. Foolish humility. 

43 Gratis. That is, for nothing; without interest. 

44 Usance. Interest. 

45 Upon the hip. Get him at an advantage. The 
phrase has reference to a wrestling-bout. 

48 Where merchants. That is, where Shylock's chances 
of business could be most injured by Antonio. 



NOTES 



109 



50 Interest. The money charged for a loan. Shy lock 
considers it profit made with much trouble and industry. 
54 Gross. The entire sum. 
59 Last man. The last one spoken of. 

61 Of excess. Anything over and above the amount 
borrowed or lent. 

62 Ripe wants. Wants that cannot be delayed. 

63 Possess'd. Informed. Shakespeare frequently uses 
the word in this sense. 

64 Would. Wish. 

69 Advantage. Interest. 

70 Jacob grazed. He took the sheep out to pasture and 
tended them there. See Genesis xxx.) 

71 Abram. Abraham. 

72 Wrought. Performed. Rebekah suggested the trick 
by which Jacob supplanted Esau. See Genesis xxvu. 

77 Compromised. Entered into a mutual agreement ► 
This is the literal meaning of the word. 

78 Eanlings. The new-born lambs. 

78 Pied. Variegated; parti-colored; spotted. 

84 Sway'd and fashion d. Controlled and shaped by 
Providence. 

8* Inserted. Introduced. 

85 Good. Just. 

97 Beholding. Beholden; obliged. 

98 Oft. Often. Saying a thing over and over again. 
100 Moneys. Sums of money. 

102 Sufferance. By this he means that patient endur- 
ance is the distinguishing mark of his tribe. 

103 Cut-throat. A murderer; an assassin. 

104 Gaberdine. A large, loose cloak, worn by others 
beside Jews. Spanish, gaberdina, a sort of cassock, with 
closely buttoned sleeves. 

105 For use. Because I use. 

109 Rheum. Spit upon my beard. 

no Foot. Kick me. 

115 Bondman's key. The whining tones of a slave. 

126 A breed for barren metal. When did a friend take 
of his friend money that has proceeded from money lent,, 
seeing that money, being lifeless metal, cannot increase as 
animals do? 

132 Doit. Half a farthing. (A Dutch word.) 

137 Single bond. Antonio's bond alone, without any 
other person as security. 



no THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

140 In the condition. As set forth in the contract. 

141 Nominated. Named. (The forfeit named shall 
be for.) 

144 Seal. Put my seal to. 

153 Suspect. To suspect. "To" was omitted as it is after 
auxiliary verbs, because at one time there was confusion as 
to what were and were not auxiliary verbs. 

156 Forfeiture. Penalty due. 

158 Estimable. This word is now applied only to per- 
sons, but its use was less restricted in Elizabethan English. 
Compare the use of varnished in Act II., Scene V., line 32, 
and Act II., Scene IX., line 49. 

159 Muttons, beefs. French moutotis, boeufs. The dis- 
tinction between "sheep" and "ox" on one side, as living 
animals, and "mutton" and "beef" on the other, as the same 
animals brought to table, had not become fixed in Shakes- 
peare's time. 

162 For my love. For the sake of the love I bear you, 
do not misunderstand me. 

166 Purse the ducats. Put the money into bags. 

167 The fearful guard. Not secure, risky. Fearful used 
to mean "causing fear for" as well as "causing fear of." 

172 No dismay. There can be nothing to cause dismay 
or frighten us. 



ACT II. 
Scene I. 

1 Mislike. Dislike. 

2 Sliadowed livery. The Prince of Morocco speaks of 
himself as the servant of the sun, and compares his dusky 
skin to a dark-colored uniform furnished him by the sun. 

3 Near bred. Morocco, where he was born and brought 
up, is on the border of the torrid zone. The sun is nearer to 
there than to the more northern countries. 

5 Phoebus' fire. The sun's fire. Phoebus was the 
Roman god of the sun. 

5 Scarce thaws. The sun has scarcely power to thaw 
the icicles. 

6 Make incision. Make a cut in the body. It was the 
custom in the East for lovers to show their sincerity by cut- 
ting themselves in the presence of their lady-loves. 



NOTES in 

7 Reddest. The reddest blood was believed to be the 
sign of the greatest courage, just as cowards were said to be 
'white-livered." 

8 Aspect. Look. The accent is on the second syllable. 

9 Fear'd. Frightened. The verb " fear " of ten has this 
transitive form in Shakespeare. 

io Best-regarded. Most highly thought of. 

ii Change this hue. He would not change his color 
unless by so doing he might steal Portia's affections, win her 
love. 

13 Terms of choke. In regard to the matter of choosing. 

14 Nice direction. Fastidious guidance. 

15 Lottery. The lottery by which her destiny is to be 
decided. 

16 Bars me. Deprives me of the right of choosing for 
myself. 

17 Scanted. Limited. Given little freedom. 

18 Hedged. Confined; protected. 

18 Wit. Wisdom; foresight. 

19 His wife ivlu>. Wife of that man who. 

20 Stood as fair. Would have stood in as good a posi- 
tion for winning my love as any of those who have come for 
that purpose. Portia could well say this, for she cared for 
none of her suitors. 

24 Scimitar. A curved sword, with a broad point, used 
in the East. 

25 Sophy. The Shah of Persia, of whom "Sufi" mean- 
ing "wise man," was a common title. 

26 Won three fields. Successful in three battles. 

26 Sultan Solyman. A Turkish Sultan, called "The 
Magnificent," who reigned from 15 20-1 566. He defeated 
the Christians at Belgrade and Rhodes, but failed to capture 
Vienna. He also met defeat in Persia about 1534- 

31 A las the while! An expression of sorrow for the 
present circumstances. 

3 2 Hercules. A Greek hero, famed for his great strength. 
32 Lichas. The squire or attendant of Hercules. 

35 Alcides. Another name for Hercules; so called 
from his grandfather, Alcasus. 

42 Be advised. Consider well what you are about to 
do. 

43 Nor will not. Nor will I seek another wife. 

44 Temple. The church where the oath was to be taken. 
"Temple" is used for "church" several times in Shakes- 



ii2 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

peare, in those plays in which the scene is in Rome or 
Greece. 

45 Good fortune then! May good fortune then attend 
me! 

Scene II. 

i Conscience will serve. Halliwell thinks there should 
be "not" before "serve." Although he pretends to deliber- 
ate between obeying the dictates of conscience and yielding 
to the temptation of the fiend, Launcelot has already made 
up his mind. 

9 With thy heels. As if kicking with your heels at some 
animal behind; despising the idea of running away. 

io Pack. Be off. We still say, "Send him packing." 

io Vial Away. This word was formerly used by 
commanders to encourage their men, by riders to their 
horses, etc. It was also an expression of impatience or 
defiance. 

ii For the heavens. By heaven; or, For heaven's sake. 

13 Hanging about. His conscience clings to his heart, 
restraining his wishes, as one person clinging to the neck of 
another prevents his going. 

16 Did something smack. Had something villainous or 
dishonorable in his character. 

17 Grow to. Had a tendency to. This phrsae was 
originally applied to milk burned on the bottom of a sauce- 
pan, thus acquiring an unpleasant taste. 

21 To be ruled. If I were ruled. 

22 God bless the mark. This is said as an apology for 
mentioning the devil. 

25 Saving your reverence. Another apology for using 
an offensive term. 

27 Incarnal. Launcelot means "incarnate," in the 
flesh. He and his father make many ludicrous mistakes 
in their misuse of long words. 

27 In my conscience. Upon my conscience. 

28 To offer. In being ready to offer. 

35 Sand-blind. Half -blind. Sand is a corruption of 
A. S. sam; Latin, semi. 

36 High-gravel-blind. More than half -blind, gravel 
being larger than sand. This is a comical word of Launce- 
lot's own coining. 

36 Try confusions. Launcelot probably means "Try 



NOTES 



"3 



conclusions," but "confusions," is fitting, because he tries 
to confuse his father. 

42 Of no hand. Turn neither to the right nor to the 
left. 

44 Sonties. This is a corruption of "sanctities" or of 
"saintes," an old plural of "saint," pronounced as two 
syllables. 

48 Raise the waters. In his eyes; make him weep. 

52 Well to live. With the prospect of a long life. 

53 A\ He. The letter "a," sometimes with the 
apostrophe before it, sometimes after it, and sometimes with 
no apostrophe, is found in Old English not only for "he," 
but for "she," "it," and "they." 

56 Ergo. Latin, for therefore, but Launcelot does not 
know this. 

58 An't. "An it." If it. 

62 Sisters three. The three Fates, goddesses of the 
Greeks, who controlled man's birth, life, and death. They 
were Clotho, who drew out the thread of life, Lachesis, who 
determined its length, and Atropos, who cut it off. 

67 A hovel-post. A post supporting a hovel or shed. 

71 God rest. May God give rest to. Rest is ordinarily 
intransitive, or reflexive. 

77 Will come. Is certain to come. 

83 Fooling. Nonsense. 

93 What a beard hast thou got. Launcelot kneels down 
and presents the back of his head to his father, who takes the 
long, thick hair for a beard. 

94 Fill-horse. Cart-horse. The fills or thills are the 
shafts of a cart. 

97 Hair of his tail. A comparison of Launcelot' s words 
with Old Gobbo's shows that "of" has much the same sense 
as "on" here. 

103 Set up my rest. Make up my mind. A phrase used 
in an old card-game. 

104 Run some ground. That is, run over some ground. 
114 Of the clock. Contracted to o'clock. In Shakes- 
peare's time meals were early: dinner at n, for instance. 

116 Anon. At once. 

119 Grammercy! Corruption of French grand merci> 
great thanks. 

122 Specify. Launcelot' s mistake for certify; assure. 

123 Infection. Mistake for affection. 

129 Are scarce cater-cousins. Are hardly on speaking 



ii 4 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

terms. (Supposed to be derived from French qtiatre-cousin, 
a fourth cousin, distant relation.) 

132 Frutify. For certify. 

135 Impertinent. He means pertinent, concerning. 

141 Defect. For effect. 

144 Prejerrd. Recommended for promotion. 

147 The old proverb. "The Grace of God is better 
than riches," or, in the Scottish form, "God's Grace is gear 
enough . " — Sta u nton . 

151 Take leave. Get your permission to leave his ser- 
vice and bid him farewell. 

153 More guarded. More richly trimmed; the trim- 
mings or facings serving to protect the material of the 
dress. 

156 Table. Palm of the hand. 

156 Which doth offer, etc. Which says as certainly as 
a man on his oath that I shall have good fortune. Palmistry 
was the science of telling fortunes by examining the lines of 
the hand. 

158 Simple. He means the opposite, good. 

160 Coming-in. Allowance. 

164 For this gear. For this matter. 

168 Orderly bestow' d. Set in their proper place. 

177 Hear thee, Gratiano. Notice diat Bassanio first 
uses you in addressing Gratiano, then thee. The second 
person singular of the pronoun was in Shakespeare's time 
used among friends, in addressing servants, and in anger to 
strangers. Bassanio first uses the ordinary you; then, 
when he gives some friendly advice to Gratiano, he adopts 
a more familiar tone, and uses thee. 

178 Too r tide and bold. Too rough and plain-spoken. 

1 79 Parts thai, etc. Manners which are in keeping with 
your open nature, and which to us, who know the worth of 
that nature, do not appear as faults. 

182 Liberal. This word is here generally explained as 
"gross," "coarse," "licentious." Funiess, however, points 
out with truth that such adjectives are too strong for Bas- 
sanio's friendly remonstrance, and that our modern "free 
and easy" is more the meaning of the word. 

182 Pray thee. I beg you; often spelt Prithee. 

182 Pain. Usually pains. 

183 To allay, etc. Gratiano's skipping spirit (i.e.. lively 
disposition) is compared to something too hot, which needs 
cooling. See Coriolanus, Act n.. Scene i., 53: "One that 



NOTES n 5 

loves a cup of hot wine with not a drop of allaying Tiber in 
it." 

185 Misconstrued. Misjudged. 

187 Habit. Behavior. 

188 With respect. Seriously. 
188 But. Only. 

190 Hood. Cover. 

191 Sigh. That is, give evidence of my seriousness. 

192 AU tlte observance, etc. All those manners which 
good breeding dictates. 

193 Sad ostent. Display of serious behavior. (Latin. 
ostendere, to show.) 

195 Your bearing. How you bear yourself; behave 
yourself. 

196 Bar. Except, leave out. 
196 Gauge. Measure, judge. 

198 Put on. A merry bearing is compared to a suit of 
clothes, which may be put on and off. 

200 Purpose merriment. Mean to enjoy themselves 
thoroughly. 

202 Must. That is, must go. The verb of motion is 
often thus omitted. 

Scene III. 

1 Thou wilt. You are determined to. 

2 Our Jwuse is hell. Shylock is, therefore, as unpleas- 
ant in his home-life as in his business relations. Launcelot 
had called him the devil in the previous scene. 

3 Tediousn-ess. Wearisomeness. Jessica, being the 
daughter of a hated Jew, is shut out from all the pleasures 
which other girls might enjoy, and Shylock is too mean to 
entertain company belonging to his own race. 

10 Exhibit. For inhibit, prevent. He pretends that he 
cannot speak for weeping. 

11 Pagan. Heathen. (Latin, paganus, countryman. 
Christianity affected the towns first, and people in country 
places were ignorant of it. Hence the use of the word 
meaning "countryman" to mean "one not a Christian.) 

14 Heinous. Hateful. (O. F- hainos, from hair, to 
hate.) 

16 But though, etc. But though by birth I am my 
father's child, I am in no way kindred to his disposi- 
tion. 



ii6 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

1 8 I shall end this strife. There will be an end to this 
contest in my mind between duty to my father and love for 
Lorenzo. 

Scene IV. 

5 Spoke us yet of. Bespoke for ourselves, made ar- 
rangements with. Torch-bearers were a necessary part of 
every troop of masquers. 

6 Quaintly ordered. Gracefully arranged. (Quaint was 
supposed to be derived from Latin, competus, adorned, 
through French, coint. It really comes from cognitus, well- 
known.) 

7 And better, etc. That is, "and it would be better if 
it were not undertaken." 

io Break up. Open. 

12 Hand. Hand-writing. We still say, "he writes a 
fair hand." 

14 Writ. Wrote. 

15 By your leave. With your permission I will be 
off. 

19 Hold here. Here, catch hold of this; generally in 
this sense in the imperative, as here, and frequently followed 
by the personal pronoun "thee," not "thou," or "you." 

22 Masque. An entertainment of which acting and 
dancing formed part, the guests and performers being 
masked. 

23 Provided of. Shakespeare often used of where we 
should use with or another preposition. 

31 Gold and jewels. It never even occurs to Lorenzo 
or Jessica or any of their friends that there was anything to 
be said against their going off with Shylock's property. If 
they had thought about it, they would have defended it on 
the ground that Shylock made no use of his wealth, and that 
he was a common enemy with whom the ordinary laws did 
not hold. 

35 Dare misfortune, etc. Let misfortune never dare 
stand in her way except under the excuse (for Jessica herself 
deserves no ill-fortune) that she is a Jew's daughter. She 
in line 36 refers to Misfortune personified; she in line 37 to 
Jessica. 

37 Faithless. Without religious (i.e., Christian) faith, 
unbelieving; it now means not keeping faith. 

38 Peruse. Read over carefully. 



NOTES 117 

Scene V. 

3 What, Jessica! Shylock raises his voice and calls 
his daughter. 

3 Gormandize. To eat like a gourmand, a glutton. 
Shylock speaks as though it was pleasant to be in his service: 
Launcelot has a different opinion. (French, gourmand, 
glutton.) 

8 Wont. Accustomed. 
11 Bid forth. Invited out. 

13 They flatter me. They have invited me merely in 
order to cajole me. 

16 Look to my house. Take good care of the house, see 
that no thieves get in. 

16 Right loath. Very unwilling. 

17 A-brewing. Preparing. 

17 Towards my rest. That will affect my rest. 

18 To-night. Last night; the phrase meaning merely 
"for the night," may refer to the present, the past, or the 
future, and in all of these senses we find it frequently in 
Shakespeare. 

20 Reproach. Launcelot means "approach." Shylock 
in bis So do I his takes it literally, blame. 

24 Black Monday. Easter Monday, so called because 
on that day, April 14, 1360, when Edward III. was besieging 
Paris, many of his soldiers died through the bitter cold. 

26 Was four year. Four years ago — Launcelot has 
his presentiments, but his dates and his memory generally 
are rather confused. 

30 Wry-neck' d fife. A curved kind of fife. Or "fife" 
may here mean the "player," who turns his neck awry as 
he plays. 

31 Casements. Window frames. 

^^ . Varnish' d. Painted; or it may refer to the small 
black masks. 

36 Jacob's staff. A common name for a pilgrim's staff. 
See Genesis xxxn, 10, where Jacob says: "With my staff I 
passed over this Jordan." St. James (Jacobus is Latin for 
James), the patron of pilgrims, is represented as holding a 
staff. 

43 Jewess' eye. A play on the common expression, 
"worth a Jew's eye." Money was often extorted from Jews 
by torture; the saying expressed the sum which a Jew 
would pay rather than lose an eye. 



n8 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

44 Hagar's offspring. Hagar was bondwoman to Sarah, 
Abraham's wife, and by him had a son, named Ishmael, who 
afterwards, when Sarah bore Isaac, was driven out into the 
wilderness; his descendants, the Ishmaelites, being despised 
by the Israelites, the descendants of Isaac. 

46 The patch. Fools are said to have been so called 
from the patched or motley coats worn by them. 

46 Kind enough. Good-natured enough. 

47 Snail-slow in profit. In everything that concerns his 
master's profit, as slow as a snail. 

47 Sleeps, etc. The wild-cat sleeps nearly all day, 
seeking its prey at night. It was common in Shakespeare's 
time, but is now only rarely found in remote parts of Scot- 
land. 

49 And part with him. Part with him not merely 
because he is of no use to me, but in order that he may by his 
extravagance and sloth help to waste the money which his 
new master (whom I hate as being a Christian) has by 
Antonio's help borrowed of me. 

52 Perhaps I will return immediately. Said in order to 
frighten her into being careful. 

54 Fast bind, fast find. Dyce quotes Cotgrave: "Bon 
guet chasse malaveniure: Good watch prevents misfortune; 
'fast bind, fast find,' say we." 

55 A proverb. A proverb which to men of careful mind 
never loses its force. 

56 Crost. Crossed. Thwarted, interfered with. 



Scene VI. 

1 Pent-house. A corruption of the French appentis, 
from Latin appendicium, an appendage, something added 
on to a house, a shed. 

2 To make stand. To take up our stand. 

3 Out-dwells. Over-stays. 

5 Venus' pigeons. Properly doves, which drew the 
chariot of Venus, the Roman goddess of love. 

7 Obliged. Pledged previously. 

9 Sits down. Sits down "with." 

10 Untread again. Retrace. 

11 Tedious measures. Space marked out for him, 
which become tedious, wearisome, on the return journey. 

12 Are. Exist. 



NOTES 119 

14 Younher. Young man. (Dutch jong, young; heer, 
sir.) 

15 Scarfed. Decked with flags. This is a vivid phrase 
for a fresh-trimmed vessel, wearing her sails like so much 
finely. 

15 Puts from. Puts off from. 

16 Hugged and embraced. Favored by the wind. 

16 Strumpet wind. The wind that favors many ships, 
and is false to them all (because it does damage.) 

17 How like, etc. An allusion to the Prodigal Son. 
Luke xv. 1 1-32. 

1 8 Over-weather' d. Weather-beaten. 
21 Your patience. I ask your pardon. 
21 Abode. Delay. 

27 Albeit. Although. 

28 Love. Lover. 

30 Who love. Whom love. 

35 Exchange. An exchange of clothing. 

38 Cupid. The Son of Venus. His arrows were sup- 
posed to fill people with love, causing them to commit fol- 
lies at which he laughed. But even Cupid would blush with 
shame at this folly of Jessica's. 

42 Good sooth. In good truth. 

42 Light. A play on "light" meaning "bright," and 
" light" in the sense of gay, frivolous. 

43 Office of discovery. Duty that will tend to reveal 
me. The duty of a torch-bearer is to show things up. 

44 Obscured. Hidden. 

45 Garnish. Dress. 

47 The close night. The secret or concealing night. 
The time of complete darkness is fast passing away. 

48 Stay'd. Waited. 

49 Gild. Another pun. Jessica means provide her- 
self with gold, with a reference to the meaning of "gild" 
as "adorn," "beautiful." 

51 By my hood. Gratiano was probably disguised as 
a friar, and intends a kind of pun on "hood" as in "man- 
hood." "By my knighthood" was a common oath. 

51 Gentiles. A pun on "gentle." 

52 Beshrew. Curse. To "beshrew," literally to 
"curse," is frequently used by Shakespeare for a mild form 
of imprecation, very similar to the modern slang, "hang 
me," if I do not. 

56 And therefore, etc. And therefore she being, as she 



120 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

is, wise, fair, and true, I enshrine her in my heart with a love 
that shall never know change. 

62 Fie, fie. You ought to be ashamed of yourself for 
delaying so long. 

64 Is come about. Has veered round, i.e., to a quarter 
that will allow of our setting sail at once. 

65 Presently. At once; as more usually in Shakes- 
peare. 

66 Twenty. That is, a great number; this indefinite 
sense is very frequent in Shakespeare. 



Scene VII. 

1 Discover. Show, reveal. 

2 Several. Different. 

4 Who. Which. "Who" is now used only for per- 
sons, "which" for things and animals. 

8 As blunt. The motto is as pointless as lead itself. 

1 1 The one of them. One of them, but specially the 
one. 

1 2 Withal. Together with it. 

14 Back again. Going over them again, but in reverse 
order. 

1 7 Hazard for lead? Must I make this hazard, run this 
risk, of all I have for something so unattractive as this 
leaden casket? 

20 A golden mind. A noble mind does not deign to 
concern itself with things so worthless as this lead shows it- 
self to be. The prince has a high opinion of himself. 

21 Then. Therefore. 

22 Virgin. Pure, unsullied. 

25 With an even hand. With impartial judgment. 

26 By thy estimation.' By the estimation in which you 
are held by others, your true value. 

27 And yet enough. And yet that's "enough." 

29 And yet, etc. And yet for me to have any doubts 
as to my deserts would be for myself weakly to disparage 
myself. 

31 That's the lady. What I deserve is the lady. 

32 Deserve her. By being her equal. 

^^ hi qualities of breeding. In those accomplishments 
which show good breeding. 
36 Graved. Cut, carved. 



NOTES 121 

40 Mortal breathing saint. Saint while still living. Per- 
sons are recognized as saints usually after death. Portia 
was so good as to deserve, in the prince's opinion, that name 
while still alive. 

41 Hyrcanian deserts. Hyrcania, a province of the 
ancient Persian empire, on the south and south-east of the 
Caspian or Hyrcanian Sea, is frequently mentioned by old 
English writers as being famous for tigers. 

41 Vasty wilds. Boundless and desolate tracts. 

42 Throughjares. Ways one may go through. Now 
spelt "thoroughfare." (Old English, faran, to go; hence, 
"fare" the money paid for a journey.) 

43 View. "To" is omitted. In modern English we 
say, "Come and see." 

44 Ambitious head. Wave that rises high as though with 
ambition. 

46 Spirits. Courageous men. 
49 Like. Likely. 

49 'Twere damnation. It would be deserving of ever- 
lasting perdition. 

50 It were too gross. It would be too common to inclose 
(as the ribs inclose the body) her shroud. 

51 Cerecloth. Wax-cloth, shroud, the dress of a dead 
person. (Latin, cera, wax.) 

51 Obscure. Dark. 

52 Immured. Shut up, as within walls (Latin, murus t 
wall). 

53 Undervalued. In 1600 gold was worth ten times 
as much as silver. 

56 Angel. An old English coin varying in value from 
seven shillings to ten shillings. 

57 Insculp'd upon. The figure of St. Michael piercing 
the dragon was so cut as to stand out above the surface of 
the coin. 

60 Thrive I as I may. Let my success be what it 
will. 

63 A carrion Death. A skull, from which the flesh had 

rotted away. 

68 But. Merely, only. 

73 Is cold. Is coldly received. 

77 Part. Depart. 



122 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

Scene VIII. 

4 Raised the duke. Stirred him up to use his authority 
towards recovering Jessica. 

8 Gondola. A kind of boat very common in Venice, 
where people go from place to place by water, the only streets 
being canals. 

12 A passion so confused. An exhibition of violent 
emotion of so mixed a character; partly on account of the 
marriage of his daughter with a Christian, partly for the loss 
of his money. 

16 Fled with Christians. Jessica had thus cut herself 
off from the number of the chosen people. Shylock's pas- 
sion is of a piece with the convictions which the Jews held, 
at anyrate after the return from the Babylonish captivity. 
So when Ezra heard of the "mixed marriages," he says of 
himself, "I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked 
off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down 
astonied." — Ezra, IX. 3. 

16 O my Christian ducats! Shylock is represented as 
mixing up, in his excitement, execrations upon the Christian ; 
that is, Lorenzo, and regrets for the loss of his money. 

21 Justice/ I will have justice. 

25 Look he keep his day. Take care to be ready with 
the money on the day arranged. 

27 Reasoned. Talked. 

29 Miscarried. Was wrecked. 

30 Richly fraught. Was freighted with a valuable 
cargo. 

^ You were best. "You had better," as we should 
say. 

37 Some speed. Make as much speed as possible in 
returning. 

39 Slubber not business. Do not by over-haste spoil the 
business upon which you go. 

40 The very riping. The full time till the matter is 
ripe for action. 

41 For the bond. As regards the bond. 

41 Hath of me. Holds from me. 

42 Your mind of love. Your loving mind, your mind 
which is intent upon, occupied by, thoughts of love. 

44 O stents. Demonstration. 

45 As shall conveniently. As shall be fit and proper 
for you to make. 



NOTES 123 

46 And even tltere. And even at this point, as he said 
these words. 

47 Turning his face. Turning away his face so that 
Bassanio might not be grieved by the sight of his emotion. 

48 Wondrous sensible. Showing himself of very sensitive 
feelings. 

50 Loves the world for him. That is, if it were not for 
his affection for Bassanio, Antonio would have no pleasure 
in life. 

52 Quicken. Enliven. 

52 His embraced heaviyiess. Sadness which has such 
a hold on him that he appears to cling to it. 



Scene IX. 

1 Straight. Immediately, at once. 

2 His oath. See Arragon's speech immediately be- 
low. 

3 To his election presently. To make his choice at 
once- 

6 Nuptial rites. Wedding ceremony. 

10 Unfold. Disclose, tell. 

18 Hazard. The chance of choosing. 

19 Addressed me. Prepared myself. 
25 Meant by. Intended to refer to. 

27 Fond. Foolish. 

28 Martlet. The house-martin, which builds its nest 
under the eaves of a house; "let" is a diminutive ending. 

29 In the weather. Exposed to the weather. 

30 Even in the force, etc. Even in the way of accidents, 
and where they are likely to be most violent. 

32 Jump. Agree. 

^ Me. Myself. 

^ Barbarous. Uncivilized, not polite. 

37 Go about. Seek. 

38 Cozen. Cheat. 

41 Estates, degrees. Ranks, titles. 

42 Derived. Obtained. 

42 Clear. Bright, unspotted (Latin, clarus). 

43 Purchased. Obtained, won; (from French, pour- 
chasser, to hunt after, pursue eagerly). 

44 How many, etc. In that case how many who now 



124 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

humbly stand bare-headed, would wear their hats (while 
others stood bare-headed before them). 

46 How much, etc. How much that was low and mean 
would then be found mixed up with, and would be separated 
from, that which is truly honorable! how much that was 
truly honorable would be found mixed up with, and would 
be separated from, the chaff and refuse of the time, to be 
again restored to its original bright condition ! There is 
a confusion of metaphors owing to that introduction of ruin 
(to which alone new-varnish' d is applicable), but the word 
seems to be used to mark the deteriorating effect which the 
times had had upon character, an idea which "chaff of the 
times" would not have conveyed. 

49 But to my choice. But I must proceed to make my 
choice, without longer indulging in these reflections. 

51 I will assume desert. I will take it for granted that 
I possess the required desert. 

55 Schedule. A small written roll of parchment. 

61 To offend and judge. The same man cannot be an 
offender, and the judge in his own case. 

61 Distinct. Accent on first syllable. 

68 J wis. This is really Old English, ywis, cer- 
tainly; but came to be regarded as the first person of a verb 
meaning "to know." 

69 So was this. In the casket. 

71 /. That is, the fool's head. 

72 Sped. Done with. 

74 By. In proportion to. 

80 Deliberate. Careful in making up their mind. 

81 They have the wisdom. They are so clever in their 
reasonings that they show themselves to be too clever and 
fail. And they are wise after all, for I do not care for them. 

82 Heresy. False teaching. 

83 Goes. A singular verb with two nouns. 

85 My lord. Portia playfully gives her servant a title 
corresponding to the one he had used. She was on good 
terms with her servants. 

89 Sensible regreets. Substantial greetings: "sensible," 
plain to the senses (of sight and touch). 

90 To wit. Namely. 

90 Commends. Salutations, compliments. 

90 Courteous breath. Polite verbal messages. 

91 Yet. As yet, up to now. 

92 So likely. So well fitted for his office. 



NOTES 125 

94 Costly. Rich in its gifts. 

95 Fore-spurrer. A fore-runner who has ridden in ad- 
vance in order to announce his lord's coming. 

98 High-day. Elegant (as though the servant's wit was 
dressed in holiday clothes). 

100 Post. Speedy messenger. News was carried by 
messengers, who stopped to change horses at fixed stations 
(posts) on the way. 

101 Lord Love. Cupid. Nerissa means, "I hope it 
will turn out to be Bassanio. " 



ACT III. 
Scene I. 

2 It lives there unchecked. The report is still going 
about uncontradicted. 

3 The narrow seas. The English Channel. 

4 The Goodwins. The Goodwin Sands, dangerous 
quicksands off the south coast of Kent. Traditions say that 
they were once an island belonging to Earl Goodwin, which 
was swallowed up by the sea about 11 00 a.d. 

5 The Carcasses. The remains of wrecked ships, with 
their bare ribs looking like skeletons. 

6 My gossip Report. That tattling old woman, Re- 
port; gossip, properly meaning a sponsor in the baptism, 
Old English, gossib, that is, god-relative, came to be used, 
from the talkative nature of the old women who often acted in 
this capacity, for any talkative person, and also for empty talk. 

9 Knapped. Snapped, broke into pieces. Old people 
were fond of eating ginger. 

11 Prolixity. "Long-windedness." 

11 Crossing the plain highway of talk. Telling a story 
is compared to walking along a road. Salanio says he will 
tell his story straightforwardly, without wandering from side 
to side. 

15 The full stop. Salanio is not keeping his word. 
Salarino tells him to finish his story. 

20 Betimes. Quickly, in good time. 

21 Cross my prayer. That is, come between Salanio 
and Salarino before the former could say his prayer, "Amen" 
or "so be it," to confirm the latter's good wishes. 



156 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

21 In the likeness. In the person; as though the devil 
had assumed the likeness of Shylock. 

25 None so well. Better than any one; meaning that 
Salanio had had a hand in Jessica's flight. 

28 Wings. That is, the disguise. 

30 Complexion. Nature. It is the nature of young, 
birds when fledged to leave the parents' nest. 

38 Match. Bargain. 

39 A prodigal. Not in extravagantly spending his; 
money upon himself, but in lending money in so lavish a; 
way to his friends. 

40 So smug. With such an air of respectability. 

41 The mart. The Exchange on the Rialto. 

46 What's that good for? Of what possible use could 
that be to you? 

49 Half a million. From gaining half a million ducats. 

50 Thwarted. Hindered. 

53 Organs. Such as the heart, the eyes, etc. 

54 Dimensions. Size and shape. 

63 What is his humility? Humility, meekness, is one 
of the virtues of a truly Christian man. Shylock asks what 
meekness does a Christian show if he is wronged ? 

64 Sufferance. Patient endurance. 

79 Frankfort. In Germany. Then famous for its fairs. 

80 Curse. The evils foretold in Scripture against the 
Jews. Shylock argues that the curse never fell till now be- 
cause he had never felt it. Notice how this fine touch shows 
the selfishness of the man. 

81 That. The diamond. 

84 Hearsed. In a hearse on the way to burial. 

85 So. So much for that. 

87 Loss upon loss. One loss coming after another; 
the loss of his daughter, and upon that the loss of his money. 

89 Nor no. The double negative adding emphasis. 

89 No ill-luck stirring, etc. Shylock is impatient to 
hear that misfortune has fallen on Antonio, but so far the 
only misfortune has been his own. 

94 What, what, what? This is said with eager impa- 
tience to hear that Antonio also had suffered in some way. 

105 Thou slickest, etc. Your words stab me to the 
heart. Tubal having given him a ray of comfort in mention- 
ing Antonio's losses, proceeds to plague him again. 

106 At a sitting. At one time and place. 
108 Divers. Several. 



NOTES 



127 



109 Cannot choose but break. Cannot help becoming 
bankrupt. 

114 For a monkey. In payment for a monkey she 
bought of him. 

1 16 Turquoise. A precious stone of blue color, found in 
east Persia. It was supposed to preserve love between 
man and wife. 

116 Leah. Shylock's dead wife. 

119 Undone. Ruined. 

121 Fee me an officer. Arrange with an officer to be 
ready to arrest Antonio as soon as the bond becomes due. 

125 Synagogue. A Jewish place of worship. 



Scene II. 

2 In choosing wrong. In the event of your choosing 
wrong. 

4 But it is not love. Portia will modestly await the 
result of Bassanio's choice before she actually confesses her 
love. And yet her whole speech expresses it. 

5 / would not lose you. I should not like you to go 
away. 

6 Hate counsels not. Hatred does not give advice of 
such a kind as that which I have just now given you. 

8 And yet a maiden. And yet, even if you stay long, 
you will not understand me, for whatever thoughts a maiden 
may have, she may not express them. 

11 Forsworn. Guilty of breaking my oath. Portia 
had promised (her father, perhaps) not to reveal the secret 
of the caskets. 

15 Overlooked. Bewitched. 

16 Yours. Portia would prettily make a slight pause 
before the second yours. 

18 Naughty. Wicked. 

20 Though yours, not yours. That is, yours in love, 
but not yet in right. 

22 Feize. Weigh down, make the time pass heavily, 
slowly. (French, peser.) 

23 Eke. Lengthen. 

25 Upon the rack. Bassanio compares his feelings, in 
his uncertainty, to the sufferings of a man stretched on the 
rack, the wooden frame on which prisoners were tortured 
in order to make them confess their crime. Traitors especi- 



i 2 8 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

ally were tortured. Notice how from the very beginning 
Portia teases Bassanio. 

29 Fear the enjoying. Fear as to the winning of her 
whom I love. 

30 There may, etc. Snow and lire may as well live to- 
gether in friendship as treason and my love. 

2,2, Enforced. In order to end their torture, tortured men 
often made any statements, true or false, which they thought 
would be acceptable to their persecutors. 

34 Promise me life. As was often done in the case of 
those from whom it was important to extract a confession of 
the truth. 

35 "Confess," etc. If I had to confess, all that I should 
need to say would be, "I confess my love." 

38 For deliverance. Which shall procure my deliver- 
ance. 

39 Let me to. Let me go to. 

42 Aloof. At a distance. (Old English on; loo] from 
Dutch Icef, the side of a ship towards the wind.) 

44 A swan-like end. Swans were believed to sing just 
before their death. 

45 Fading. Disappearing. 

49 Flourish. The blast of trumpets sounded when the 
crown is placed on the sovereign's head. 

51 Dulcet. Sweet. (Latin, dulcis, sweet.) 
51 As are, etc. This passage refers to the custom of 
the musicians, who were hired for the wedding, waking the 
bridegroom in the early morning: they afterwards accom- 
panied him to the house of the bride. 

54 Presence. Handsome appearance. 

55 When he did, etc. Laomedon, King of Troy, hav- 
ing refused to pay to Poseidon (Neptune) the wages he had 
promised him for building the walls of Troy, Poseidon sent 
a sea-monster to ravage the country. By the command of 
an oracle, the Trojans were bound, from time to time, to 
sacrifice a maiden to the monster. At the time when Hesione, 
the daughter of Laomedon, was, by lot, about to be sacri- 
ficed, Hercules (Alcides) returning from his expedition 
against the Amazons, happened to stop at Troy. On con- 
dition that he should kill the monster, Laomedon promised 
him the pair of divine horses which Zeus, in compensation 
for carrying off Ganymede, Laomedon's son, to be his cup- 
bearer, had given him. Hercules accordingly slew the 
monster, but Laomedon refused to keep his promise. 



NOTES 129 

57 I stand for sacrifice. I in this matter represent 
Hesione. 

58 The Dardanian wives. The Trojan matrons, some 
of whose daughters had been offered as a sacrifice to the 
monster. Dardanus, son of Zeus and Electra, was the 
mythical ancestor of the Trojans, and by him the ancient 
city Dardania is said by Homer to have been founded near 
the site, and before the building of Troy. 

59 With bleared eyes. With eyes made dim by the 
tears they shed for the maidens offered up in sacrifices; 
"blear" is only another form of "blur." 

61 Live thou, I live. If you live, I live; if you fail, it is 
death to me. 

62 That niak'st the fray. Who engage in the trial. 

63 Fancy. Frequent in Shakespeare for love, or, rather 
the inclination to love, which may or may not be lasting. 

67 Engendered. Made to exist. 

73 So may the outward shows. During the music Bas- 
sanio has been thinking. Now he speaks his thought: 
the outward appearance may be very unlike the real things. 

74 Still. Constantly. 

75 In law, what plea. A bad case in law may be made 
to appear good by the eloquence of counsel. 

76 Seasoned. The lawyer's pleasing (gracious) voice 
puts out of sight the badness of the plea, as sauces and con- 
diments cover up the bad taste of tainted meat. 

78 Some sober brow. Some grave-looking person. 

79 Approve. Justify. 

80 Grossness. Greatness of the error. 

81 Simple. Thorough, out and out. (Simple means 
properly "one-fold"; Latin, simplex.) 

82 His. Its. 

83 All. Altogether. 

85 Mars. God of War. 

86 Livers white as milk. An expression used with ref- 
erence to cowards. 

89 By the weight. For so much an ounce, pound, etc. 

91 Making them lightest. Making those who wear 
most of it (and who should therefore weigh heaviest) light- 
est (in character); their frivolity, wantonness, being all the 
more conspicuous for that which they have called in to help 
their good looks. 

92 Crisped. Close-curled. 

92 Snaky in appearance. Also deceitful. 



130 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

93 Which make, etc. Which wave in the wind as though 
they are merrily playing with it. 

94 Upon supposed fairness. Placed on what appears 
beautiful, but is not — referring to the made-up complex- 
ions of some of the court ladies. 

95 To be, etc. To be in reality those which once be- 
longed to another head. The practice of wearing false 
hair was very common in Shakespeare's day. 

95 Dowry. A gift bestowed on a woman on her mar- 
riage. 

96 In the sepulchre. Being in the sepulchre. 

97 Guiled. Treacherous, deceitful. 

99 An Indian beauty. That is, a dark colored woman, 
who, though a beauty in her own land, would not be con- 
sidered beautiful by an Englishman. 

102 Midas. The fabled king of Phrygia who, being al- 
lowed by the god Bacchus to ask any favor he pleased, begged 
that all that he touched might be changed to gold. But 
when even his food and drink changed to gold, he feared to 
die of starvation, and begged that the power might be re- 
moved. 

103 Drudge. Slave; because silver was the metal most 
used for coins. 

104 Meagre. Poor in appearance and value. 

108 Fleet. Fly away, vanish. 

109 Rash-embraced despair. Despair that is felt rashly, 
without sufficient cause. 

no Green-eyed jealousy. So called from the jaundiced, 
sickly look imputed to those suffering from it. 

in Ecstasy. Any strong emotion, here of joy; literally, 
a standing out of oneself. • 

114 Surfeit. Have too much. 

115 Counterfeit. Portrait. 

117 Riding on these balls. Being impressed on my 
eyeballs and moving with them. 

119 Parted with sugar breath. Between Portia's lips 
the sweetest breath seems to be coming forth; that is, so 
skilful is the painting that one almost imagines he sees the 
breath as it comes out from between the lips. 

121 Plays the spider. Acts the part of a spider. 

122 Mesh. Net. 

126 Unfurnish'd. Unprovided with a mate. 

127 Shadow. The picture. 

130 Continent. That which contains. 



NOTES i 3t 

136 Hold. Consider. 

140 / come by note. I come as directed by the paper, 
to give a kiss and to receive the lady. 

141 Contending in a prize. Contending in a struggle 
in which a prize is to be given to the victor. 

144 Giddy in spirit. Wavering in his mind between 
hope and fear. 

145 His or no. Be meant for him or for his opponent. 

147 As doubtful. Being doubtful. 

148 Ratified. Settled. 

157 Livings. Estates, possessions. 

158 Exceed account. Exceed all calculations. 

159 To term in gross. To state at its full value. 
168 But now. A moment ago. 

170 Even now, but now. At this present moment. 

172 With this ring. The giving of the ring, so natural 
and unforced an incident, has an important bearing on the 
end of the play. 

174 Presage. Foretell. 

1 75 Be my vantage. Be the ground on which I can base 
unanswerable complaints against you. 

176 Bereft. Robbed. 

177 Only my blood. My joy is too great for words, 
but makes my heart beat faster. 

182 Where every something, etc. Where all the exclama- 
tions being mingled together, become one wild chorus in 
which nothing can be distinguished but joy, and that is ex- 
pressed only in the general sound, and not in clear words. 

192 Wish none from me. You are so happy that you 
will not wish to deprive me of any happiness. 

196 So. Provided that. 

200 Intermission. Delay. Gratiano means that as 
Bassanio had very quickly fallen in love with Portia on his 
previous visit, so he had just as quickly loved Nerissa when 
he saw her. 

202 Stood upon. Depended upon. 

203 As the matter falls. As it turns out. 

205 Roof. The roof of the mouth. 

206 If promise last. If the promise is kept. Note the 
pun. 

208 Provided that your fortune. Provided you had the 
good fortune to win her mistress; "achieve" from Old 
French, achever, achiever, to accomplish. 

212 Faith, In faith, truly. 



132 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

213 Shall. Will. 

214 Infidel. Jessica, who, being a Jewess, did not be- 
lieve in the Christian religion. 

217 " Youth of my new interest. Bassanio is modestly 
doubting whether his position is of long-standing enough to 
warrant him in welcoming his friends to Portia's house. 

219 Very. True. (Latin, verus, true.) * 

232 Estate. Condition. 

235 Royal. Kingly in wealth and estimation. The 
term "royal" was orignally applied to merchants employed 
by sovereigns as their agents, and this was especially the 
case in the Venice of early days. 

237 Jasons. See note on line 172, Act I., Scene 1. 

239 Shrewd. Evil. 

242 Constitution. Temper of mind. 

243 Constant. Even-minded. 
254 Braggart. Boaster. 

258 Engaged. Pledged to the repayment of a debt. 

258 Mere. Out and out. 

259 To feed my means. To increase my money. 

260 The paper as. The paper standing for, represent- 
ing. 

262 Issuing. Sending forth. 

263 Hit. Succeeded. 

265 Barbary. The Barbary states in the north of Africa. 

267 Merchant-marring. Causing ruin to merchants. 

269 Discharge. Pay his debt to. 

272 Confound. Ruin. 

273 Plies. Presses with petitions. • 

274 Doth impeach the freedom. Denies that there is 
free justice for all parties in Venice. 

276 Magnificoes. Nobles. 

277 Port. Importance. 

277 Persuaded. Argued. 

278 Envious. Malicious. 
285 Deny. Forbid. 

289 Best-condition' d. Best natured. 
289 Unwearied. That is, most unwearied; we have to 
supply a superlative from best. 

291 The ancient Roman honor. That honorable spirit 
which was so characteristic of the ancient Romans (from 
whom he is a worthy descendant). 

292 Than any. Than in any who, etc. 
294 For me. That is, as security for me. 



NOTES 



'33 



295 Deface. Cancel, by an acknowledgment of pay- 
ment written across it. 

298 Shall lose a hair. Shall suffer the smallest injury. 

299 Call me wife. Make yourself legally my husband. 
304 Along. With you. 

306 As maids and widows. As maids in having no 
husbands, as widows in having lost our husbands. 

307 Shall hence. Shall go hence; the verb of motion 
omitted with the adverb, as so frequently. 

308 Cheer. Look, countenance; from Old French, 
chere, chiere, the face, look. 

309 Since you are dear bought. Portia did not intend 
by these words ungenerously to remind Bassanio of the 
benefits she had conferred upon him, but was referring to 
the anxiety of mind which she had undergone while her 
fate depended upon the choice of the caskets made by her 
different suitors; possibly there is a reference to Antonio's 
sacrifice for Bassanio; dear, an adverb. 

311 Sweet. My dear friend. 

312 Estate . Condition . 

313 Forfeit. Forfeited. 

315 Between you and I. This is incorrect grammar. 
It should be, of course, "Between you and me." This 
irregularity is common in Elizabethan English. 

315 If I might, etc. Antonio begins to express a wish 
to see Bassanio; then remembering that his friend is in the 
delightful society of Portia, he breaks off, and forbears to 
urge him, thus affording another instance of his unselfishness. 

316 Use your pleasure. Do what is most convenient to 
you. 

317 Love. That is, love for Antonio. 

319 Dispatch. Arrange with all possible speed. 

322 No bed. No bed shall have to answer for my de- 
laying, no sleep shall keep me away a moment longer than is 
absolutely necessary. 

Scene III. 

1 Look to him. Take good care that he does not escape. 

4 Speak not against my bond. It is no use your trying 
to argue me out of the full penalty laid down in the bond. 

9 Naughty. Literally "of naught," "of no value," 
is now applied chiefly to children, but in Shakespeare's day 
had a much stronger meaning. 



i 3 4 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

9 Fond. Foolish; the primary meaning of the word, 
and thence applied to the foolish caressing of children, etc. 

10 To. As to. 

10 Abroad. Out-of-doors. 

14 Dull-eyed. Either wanting in sense, as we speak of 
a short-sighted action, or easily brought to tears. 

17 Vll have 110 speaking. I will not allow you to talk 
with me; I will not be talked into yielding. 

18 Impenetrable cur. Low, ill-bred fellow incapable of 
feeling. 

19 Kept. Dwelt; a word still in use in the Universities, 
where a man is said to "keep" in such and such rooms. 

20 Bootless. Fruitless, useless; Anglo-Saxon, bot, ad- 
vantage, profit, and leas, loose, without. 

22 Forfeitures. Penalties. 

23 Made moan to me. Complained to me of his strict 
insistence upon payment to the very day. 

25 Will never grant. Will never allow the terms upon 
which the bond is to be forfeited to hold good. 

26 Deny the course of law. Refuse to let the law take 
its course. 

27 Commodity. The advantage that foreigners enjoyed 
of being treated as equals with the natives. Another ex- 
planation is, "convenience of trading." 

32 Bated. Lessened, "pulled me down." (Shortened 
from "abate," Old French, abatre, to beat down.) 



Scene IV. 

2 Conceit. Idea. 

3 Godlike amity. Lorenzo means that Portia shows 
her esteem of friendship as something higher than human 
by speeding Bassanio on his way at such a moment. There 
is not a conflict here, as has been sometimes said, between 
love and friendship. It is more correct to say that Portia 
feels the truth of her husband's love involved in the loyalty 
of his friendship; but indeed Shakespeare in this scene, as 
often elsewhere, uses the same word "love" of both passions, 
as the cavalier did of devotion to his lady and devotion to his 
cause: 

"I could not love thee, dear, so much, 
Loved I not honor more." 
6 How true, That is, to how true. 



NOTES 135 

7 Lover. A term in use in Shakespeare's day for a dear 
friend. 

9 Than customary bounty. Than your usual kindness 
and generosity can make you to be. 

11 Nor shall not. Double negative. 

12 Waste. Spend (not necessarily unprofitably) . 

13 Whose souls do bear. Who love each other equally, 
just as two oxen yoked together bear equal burdens. 

14 A like proportion. People who love each other 
equally must be alike in features {lineaments) in manners, and 
in character (spirit). 

20 Semblance of my soul. In buying the release of An- 
tonio, who resembles Bassanio, who is as dear to me as 
my soul. The idea is that of redeeming souls from 
purgatory. 

25 Husbandry. Stewardship. 

25 Manage. Management. 

27 Breathed a secret vow. This is a pious fiction on the 
part of Portia, in order to conceal her plan of going to Padua 
to play the lawyer. It was not uncommon in the middle 
ages for ladies to seek refuge in monasteries while their 
male relatives were absent. 

33 Deny this imposition. Not to refuse this task I put 
upon you. 

35 Lays. Singular verb with two nominatives. 

36 All fair commands. That is, all such commands as 
you are likely to lay upon me. 

37 My mind. My intention of leaving you in charge 
of my house. 

38 Acknowledge you. As master and mistress. 

42 All heart's content. Everything that can satisfy your 
desires. 

44 To wish it back. To reciprocate it. 

48 All the endeavor of a man. The best efforts a man 
can make. 

49 See thou render. Take care to give. 

52 With imagined speed. Quick as thought. 

53 Traject, ferry. Italian, traghetto. (The old editions 
have tranect, which does not occur elsewhere, and is probably 
a. mistake.) 

53 Ferry. Ferry-boat. 

54 Trades. Goes to and from Venice. 

56 With all convenient speed. With all such speed as 
the circumstances will allow. 



136 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

59 Before they think of us. Before they have any idea 
of our being on the scene. 

60 Habit. Dress, costume, viz., that of lawyers. 

61 We are accomplished, etc. We possess what we 
have not (that is, manliness). 

63 Accoutred. Dressed and provided with weapons. 

65 Braver grace. More gallant and distinguished ap- 
pearance. 

67 Reed voice. The voice of a boy who is passing into 
manhood, one in a state of transition between boyhood and 
manhood. 

67 Mincing. Little. 

68 Frays. Fights, quarrels. 

69 Quaint. Artfully made up. 

72 / could not do withal. I could not help it. 

74 Puny. Feeble. 

75 That. So that. 

77 Raw tricks. Tricks showing the clumsiness and in- 
experience of youth. 

77 Jacks. A common nickname. 

79 All my whole. A pleonastic expression; that is, more 
words are used to express the sense than are necessary. 

80 Coach. Coaches came into use in England in the 
sixteenth century. Though the scene is laid in Venice and 
the neighborhood, Shakespeare ascribes to the Venetians 
customs and ideas common to the Englishmen of his day. 
It has been said of the mobs of citizens in his Roman plays, 
that they are thoroughly and unmistakably English. 

82 Measure. Travel. 



Scene V. 

1 Sirrah. Fellow. 

3 Wit-snappers. One who snaps up what is said in 
order to exercise his wit on it; joke about it. 

7 Will you cover. There is a pun here. Lorenzo 
means, "Will you lay covers on the table?" Launcelot an- 
swers him as if he meant "Will you cover your head ?" 

9 Quarrelling with occasion. Seizing every opportunity 
to make perverse replies. 

18 Discretion. Judgment in the choice of words. 

18 Suited. Arranged. 

21 A many fools, etc. Many fools of higher rank, 



NOTES 137 

with no more intelligence than he has, will turn a serious 
subject to ridicule for the sake of their joking word. 

23 How cheer' st thou? What cheer? How are you? 

27 Live. Should live. 

30 Mean it. That is, mean to lead an upright life. (It 
is believed that there is some corruption in the text.) 

35 Pawn'd. Pledged. 

37 Of me. In me. 

39 Anon. Presently. 

40 Stomach. Inclination. 

43 Set you forth. Give a full description of you. Jessica 
would probably say this in a joking yet emphatic way; as 
much as to say, you don't know yet what you'll have to digest 
in my description. 



ACT IV. 

Scene I 

1 What. Exclamation caling attention. 
3 To answer. To render account to. 
5 Uncapable. Used in Shakespeare's time as well as 
incapable. 

5 Void and empty. Void (Latin, viduus) means empty. 
Shylock is so merciless as to be compared to a stone jar 
absolutely empty of liquid. 

6 From. We now say of. 

7 Qualify. Modify, alter. 

8 Rigorous course. Harsh proceedings. 

8 Obdurate. Hardened and immovable. (Latin, ob, 
and duro, I harden.) 

10 Out of his envy's reach. Beyond the power of his 
hatred. 

10 Oppose. Place against. 

11 Patience. Firm endurance, fortitude. 

12 Quietness of spirit. Calmness and resignation. 

13 The very tyranny. The utmost cruelty. 

16 Make room. Stand back and make way for him. 

17 The world. People in general. 

18 That thou, etc. That you are continuing this ap- 
pearance of malicious design only till the hour comes for act- 
ing on it. 

20 Remorse. Pitv, considerateness. 



138 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

22 Where. Whereas. 

24 Loose. Let go. 

26 Moiety. Portion. (Literally half.) 

26 Principal. Sum lent. 

28 Huddled. Crowded one after another. 

29 Enow. Enough. (Old English, genoh.) 

32 Turks and Tartars. Owing to the religious wars, 
the Turks were in those days looked upon as a hateful race, 
while Tartars, the natives of Tartary (more properly Tatary), 
were supposed to be of a wild, savage disposition, and to 
"catch a Tartar" became a proverb for meeting with more 
than one's match. 

33 Offices of tender courtesy. Voluntary acts of kindli- 
ness. 

34 Gentle. A pun on "Gentile." 

35 Possess'd. Informed. 

37 Due and forfeit. Debt and penalty. 

39 Upon your charter. Shakespeare appeared to think 
that Venice was free by charter from an emperor, just as 
London had a charter of freedom from Henry I. But 
Venice was itself a free republic. 

41 Carrion. Dead. 

43 Say. Suppose. 

43 Is it answered? Is that answer sufficient ? 

44 What if my house. Suppose that my house. 

46 Batted. Destroyed, poisoned. 

47 Love. That is, that love; omission of the relative. 
47 Gaping pig. This is, either a squealing pig, or a 

pig's head served at table. At Queen's College, Oxford, 
a boar's head is still served upon Christmas Day with a 
lemon in its mouth. 

49 For affection, Mistress of passion. Affection here has 
its old sense of an impulse of any kind. It is distinguished 
from passion as excitement from feeling, the nervous im- 
pulse from the mental state. 

53 He. The word lie in this and the two following lines 
alludes to the different men in lines 46-48. 

55 Woollen. The air-bag of the bag-pipe was perhaps 
made of sheep-skin with the wool left on it. But woollen 
may refer only to the covering of the air-bag. 

59 Lodged. Fixed. Hate that has accumulated. 

60 That. Why. 

61 A losing suit. Shy lock would lose his three thousand 
ducats and gain nothing but worthless flesh. 



NOTES t 3 9 

63 Current. Swift course. 

67 Offence. Injured feeling. 

69 Think you question. Remember that it is the hard 
Jew you are arguing with. 

71 Main flood. The ocean. 

71 Bate his usual height. Fall short of the height to 
which the tide usually rises. 

75 To make no noise. We must supply bid from for- 
bid. 

76 Fretted. Disturbed, waved to and fro. (Old Eng- 
lish, fretan, to gnaw.) 

81 With all brief, etc. In the shortest and plainest 
way that is suitable. 

82 Judgment. Sentence against me. 

91 Abject. Mean. (Latin, ab, away; jacere, to throw.) 

91 Parts. Duties. 

103 Upon my power. On my authority. 

105 I have sent for. Portia could hardly have known 
that the Duke had sent for Bellario. She had probably left 
Belmont to ask him, being a friend of hers, what was the 
exact legal position of her husband's friend Antonio. Find- 
ing that Bellario had been sent for, she would persuade him 
to let her go disguised in his place, and get him to coach her 
in the legal points. 

105 Determine. Decide. 

114 Meetest. Fittest. 

117 Epitaph. Inscription on a tomb in memory of the 
dead. 

122 Not on thy sole, but on thy soul. Shylock is sharp- 
ening his knife on the sole of his shoe. Gratiano says that 
his soul is so hard that he might almost use that for the same 
purpose. 

127 Inexecrable. One that cannot be cursed enough. 

1 28 Let justice be accused. Justice herself is committing 
a crime in letting you live. 

130 Pythagoras. (540-510 B.C.) A great philosopher, 
who held the doctrine of transmigration of souls from men to 
animals and from animals to men. 

131 Infuse themselves. Pour themselves into (as a 
liquid into a vessel). (Latin, in, into; fundere, to pour.) 

132 Thy currish spirit. Your dog-like spirit once dwelt 
in and controlled the actions of a wolf. 

133 Who. There is no verb to this nominative, which 
may be considered a nominative absolute. 



140 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

134 Fell. Cruel. 

138 Rail. Scold. Abuse. 

139 Offend'st. Harmest. 

141 ' Cureless. Past mending. 

142 Doth commend. Introduces with favorable notice. 
144 Hard by. Close at hand; used of time as well as 

of place. 

147 Give him courteous conduct. Conduct him to my 
presence with all courtesy. 

151 In loving visitation. Upon a friendly visit. 

154 Controversy. Dispute. The word in Shakespeare's 
day was used in a wider sense than it now has (viz., that of a 
dispute by argument) for any quarrel, even one to be de- 
cided by force of arms. 

158 At my importunity. By my urgent request. 

158 To fill up. To satisfy in place of myself the request 
for my opinion which you honored me by making. 

160 No impediment. No hindrance to his, receiving the 
consideration due to his position as a great lawyer. 

163 Whose trial. Whose may refer either to him or to 
you: either way, the meaning is that experience of the 
young lawyer's skill would commend him better than any 
letter of introduction. 

168 Take' your place. Probably by the side of the Duke. 

169 Difference. Dispute. 

170 That holds this present question. That is, the sub- 
ject of the present argument. 

171 Throughly. Thoroughly. 

176 In such rule. In such strict accordance with legal 
form. 

177 Impugn. Call in question, attack. 

178 Within his danger. Within his power to injure; 
danger, from Old French, dangier (Modern French, danger), 
absolute power, irresponsible authority; hence power to 
harm (as here). 

181 Must I? Shylock seizes on the word must, which 
had been used by Portia without emphasis. 

182 Quality of mercy. Mercy, one of the qualities or 
attributes of the soul, is not forced. 

184 Twice blest. Brings a double blessing. 
186 Becomes. As becoming to, adorns. 
188 Shows. Is the emblem of. 

188 Temporal power. Earthly power, power for a time 
only, as contrasted with God's power, which is eternal. 



NOTES 



141 



189 The attribute. That which belongs to the awe and 
majesty of kings, and on which rests the fear in which they 
are held by their subjects. 

192 Enthroned in the hearts. While a king's power de- 
pends on things outside himself, mercy does not, but itself 
rules in his heart. 

194 Show. Appear. 

195 Season 'd. Moderates, and so makes more pleasant. 

196 Though justice be thy plea. Though you base your 
demand on justice. 

197 In the course of justice. If justice were allowed 
to run its course without mercy. 

199 That same prayer. The Lord's prayer. Shylock 
would not recognize the Lord's Prayer, but the same teach- 
ing is contained in some parts of the Old Testament. 

199 . Render. Give in return. 

201 Mitigate. Soften. (Latin, mitis, soft.) 

204 My deeds upon my head. I will be answerable for 
my own actions. 

206 Discharge the money. Pay the debt. 

212 Malice bears down truth. The Jew's hatred is 
stronger than his honorableness (as though the qualities 
were placed on the opposite sides of a pair of scales) . 

213 Wrest once the law. For once, make the law give 
way to your will. 

215 Of his will. From getting what he wishes. 

217 Can. That can: omission of the relative. 

218 Precedent. When engaged in legal cases, lawyers 
often quote precedents, that is, preceding cases, which have 
been decided before, and the decisions in which they think 
should influence the decision in the present case. Hence 
one wrongful decision might be the cause of others. 

221 A Daniel. Referring to the wise judgment of Daniel 
in a difficult case, when a young man. See History of 
Susannah and the Elders, v. 45, one of the Apocryphal books 
of the Bible. 

226 An oath. I have bound myself by an oath before 
God to exact the full penalty. 

227 Lay perjury. Shylock is willing (see line 202) 
to accept the responsibility for inhuman cruelty towards 
Antonio, but he now professes himself unwilling to have the 
guilt of breaking his oath upon his conscience. 

228 Forfeit. Forfeited. 

233 Tenor. The terms, what is set forth. 



I 4 2 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

235 Exposition. Explanation. Shylock tries flattery. 

245 Intent and purpose. The meaning and the purpose 
of the law fully pply to the present case, even though the 
penalty, which by the terms of the bond is due to the Jew, 
should be so extraordinary. 

249 More elder. Double comparative. 

250 Ay, his breast, etc. Shylock here shows how he 
hates Antonio. 

253 Balanced. Scales; singular used as plural, perhaps 
because the word ends with an 5 sound. 

255 On your charge. At your expense. 

257 Nominated. Named. 

259 'Twere good you do. It would be well for you to 
do. Shylock, by relying so absolutely on his bond, is really 
cutting the ground from under his own feet. See line 301, 
etc. 

266 Still her use. Constantly her custom. 

272 Process. The whole circumstances. 

273 Speak me fair in death. Speak well of me when I 
am dead. 

275 Love. Dear friend. 

276 Repent but you. If only you are sorry. 

279 With all my heart. A pun. Antonio says this with 
an attempt to smile, in order to cheer his friend. So Charles 
II., when at the point of death, apologized to those standing 
by for being so long dying. 

289 So. If only. 

294 Barrabas. Any even of the descendants of Barab- 
bas, a robber who, when under sentence of death, was re- 
leased when Christ was crucified. 

296 Pursue sentence. Do not delay in delivering sen- 
tence; literally, follow it up quickly. 

298 The Court awards. The court awards it in accord- 
ance with the provisions of the law. 

304 No jot of blood. Not a little, or smallest portion; 
jot from the Greek iota ( i.e. i.), the smallest letter of that al- 
phabet, as yod (i.e. y) was of the Hebrew. 

307 In tlie cutting it. We should now say either " in 
the cutting of it," or "in cutting it," but the construction in 
the text is one very common in Shakespeare. 

309 Confiscate. Confiscated, forfeited. 

311 Mark, Jew. Gratiano is so delighted at the new 
turn things are taking that he begins to mock Shylock with 
his own words. 



NOTES i 43 

314 More than thou desirest. Portia here for the first 
time clearly sides against the Jew. 

325 A just pound. Exactly a pound. 

326 In the substance. In the gross weight. 

327 Division. That is, one grain, the twentieth part 
into which a scruple is divided. 

329 Estimation oj a hair. Either if the scale is un- 
even by the breadth of a hair, or by the weight of a hair. 
337 Merely. Nothing but. 
342 So. As stated in the bond. 
344 Question. Argument. 

347 Alien. Foreigner. 

348 Direct or indirect. Shylock's attempt was both 
direct and indirect. The penalty directly stated in the bond 
was a pound of flesh; but this of course involved the death 
of the man from whom it should be cut. 

350 Contrive. Plot. 

352 Privy coffer. Private treasury. 

353 In the mercy. We should say, at the mercy. 

354 'Gainst all other voice. No one's appeal being of 
any avail if the duke choose that he shall die. 

355 Predicament. Condition, situation; originally a 
term in logic for one of the most general classes into which 
things can be distributed. 

356 By manifest proceeding. By the plainest evidence 
of action. 

358 The very life. The life itself; not merely personal 
injury. 

359 Incurr'd. Come in the way of. 

360 Formerly by me rehearsed. Repeated just now. 
368 For. As for, concerning. 

370 Humbleness may drive. Submission may induce 
me to make you pay a fine, instead of handing over all your 
money. 

371 For the state, not. Portia means that the duke may 
accept a fine instead of the half due to the state, but that An- 
tonio must receive his half in full. 

377 Halter. Rope to hang himself with. 

379 Quit. Give up demanding. Antonio asks that 
Shylock may not even have to pay a fine to the state. 

380 So. If. 

381 In use. In trust. 

385 Presently. At once. In Shakespeare's time it was 
common for men to change their religion suddenly. 



144 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

387 Possess' d. That is, possessed "of." 

389 Recant. Recall, withdraw. 

390 Late. Lately; that is, just now. 

392 Draw a deed of gift. Draw up a document by which 
this gift may be legally made. 

397 Ten more. To make up twelve jurymen to find him 
guilty. 

400 Desire your grace of pardon. We should say, "de- 
sire pardon of your grace." 

403 Serves you not. Is not at your disposal. 

404 Gratify. Make some return to. 

408 In lieu whereof. In return for which. 
410 Cope. Give as an equal return. 
410 Withal. With; preposition governing ducats. 
416 More mercenary. Derived any further reward than 
my own satisfaction with a good deed done. 
419 Of force. Of necessity. 

419 Attempt you further. Make a further attempt to 
persuade you. 

420 Tribute. Acknowledgment of our thanks. 

423 You press me far. By placing your request upon 
this footing, you put upon me a pressure I cannot resist. 

425 For your love. In consequence of the love you bear 
to me, as shown by your urgent request. 

427 In love. Out of the love you profess. 

429 Shame myself to give. Disgrace myself by giving. 

448 Withal. In addition. 



Scene II 

5 You are well overtaken. I am glad to have overtaken 
you. 

6 Advice. Consideration. 

11 My youth. Nerissa. Mark how skilfully Shakes- 
peare manages to bring Gratiano and Nerissa together. 

15 Old. Used intensively, without any special meaning, 
as in the schoolboy's slang phrase, "fine old game." 

19 Show. Conduct. 



NOTES 145 

ACT V 

Scene I 

4 Troilus. Son of Priam King of Troy. His love, 
Cressida, was given to the Greeks in exchange for a Trojan 
prisoner. Shakespeare had in mind a line in Chaucer's 
poem Trolius and Creseide. 

5 Sigh'd his soul. Sighed as though his very soul were 
leaving his body in yearning after Cressida. 

7 Thisbe. A beautiful girl of Babylon, loved by Pyra- 
mus. She arranged to meet him, and while waiting for him 
at the appointed place, saw a lioness, and ran away. In 
running one of her garments slipped from her, which the 
lioness soiled with blood. Pyramus found it, and thinking 
Thisbe was devoured, he killed himself, as Thisbe did when 
she found his dead body. Her story is told by Ovid. 

10 Dido. Queen of Carthage in North Africa, was be- 
loved for a time by /Eneas of Troy, the founder of the Roman 
race, who landed at Carthage in the course of his wanderings. 
When he sailed away for Italy she was heart-broken, and 
Shakespeare (without classical authority) pictures her upon 
the seashore waving a willow branch, the emblem of forsaken 
love, to induce him to return. In the account of Dido in 
Vergil's JSneid, she has herself burnt to death on a funeral pile. 

1 1 Waft. Made signs to her lover, by waving her arms, 
to urge him to return. 

13 Medea. The daughter of the King of Colchis, who 
fell in love with Jason (see note on line 171, Act 1., Scene 1.) 
and helped him get the golden fleece. 

13 Enchanted. Herbs gathered at particular times, as 
at midnight or by moonlight, and in particular places, and 
with certain ceremonies, were supposed to have magical 
powers. 

14 That did renew. ^Eson, the father of Jason, who, 
according to mythology, was, on the return of Jason from 
the Argonautic expedition, restored to youth by the magic 
power of Medea. 

15 Steals. In two senses; away, steal his precious 
ducats and jewels. 

16 With an unthrift love. With a love which recked 
nothing for such consideration as that of the wealth she was 
forfeiting by leaving her father. 



146 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

19 Stealing. Jessica means that she is not the only 
one who stole, for if she stole her father's money, Lorenzo 
stole her heart away. 

19 Vows of faith. Promises that he would be true to her. 

21 Shrew. Scolding woman. 

23 J would out-night you. I would out-do you in tell- 
ing of things that happened "in such a night." 

28 Stephano. Accent on second syllable, though the 
accent is properly on the first. 

30 Stray. Wander. 

31 Crosses. Crosses are erected, in all Roman Catholic 
countries, on many spots, to commemorate various events. 

37 Ceremoniously. With proper arrangements, such as 
lighting up the hall (line 89), and arranging for the playing 
of music (line 53). 

39 Sola, sola! "Launcelot is here imitating the horn of 
the courier or "post" as he was called, who always wore that 
appendage suspended from his neck." — Staunton. 

43 Leave hollaing. Cease shouting. 

47 Horn. There is a punning allusion here to the full 
hom as an emblem of plenty. 

49 Expect. Await. 

51 Signify. Make known. 

53 Music. Musical instruments, or band of musicians. 

57 Touches. Notes. 

59 Patines. Small plates of gold in wich the conse- 
crated wafer or bread is presented to communicants. Now, 
"patens." 

61 Like an angel sings. Shakespeare is here perhaps 
referring to what is called the "music of the spheres." The 
earth was supposed by the ancients to be inclosed by eight 
spheres, on each of which stood a beautiful female form, who 
uttered a single note as the sphere went round, the whole 
eight forming perfect harmony. So in Job xxxvin. 7, we 
read, "When the morning stars sang together, and all the 
sons of God shouted for joy." Lorenzo partly adopts this 
old idea of celestial music, and represents stars and angels 
as an answering one another in song. 

62 Cherubins. The plural of the Hebrew word cherub 
is cherubin, but cherubin was used as a singular in the Latin 
version of the Bible called the Vulgate, and so in English and 
French cherubin was regarded as singular, and a new plural 
cherubins was formed. In English we also have the plural 
cherubs. 



NOTES 147 

66 Diana. The Roman goddess of light; represented the 
moon. 

70 Attentive. Thinking of other things. 

71 Wanton. Playful. 

72 Unhandled. Not broken in. 

73 Fetching. Performing. 

77 Make a mutual stand. All stand still with one con- 
sent. 

79 The poet. The Roman poet Ovid (b.c. 43-A.D 18). 
He tells the story in his great poem the Metamorphoses, 
Books X. and XI. 

80 Orpheus. One of Jason's companions. He was 
given a lyre by the god Apollo, and played so sweetly that 
animals, trees, and rocks moved after him. His wife, Eury- 
dice having died, he followed her to Hades, where he so 
charmed the god of the infernal regions that Eurydice was 
allowed to follow him to earth, on condition that Orpheus 
would not look at her until they had reached the upper 
world. He had just reacked the boundary when his anxiety 
to see if his wife were following him overcame him. He 
looked round, and immediately Eurydice was snatched 
away. 

81 Stockish. Lifeless like a block of wood or stone. 

85 Treasons, stratagems, and spoils. Plots against the 
state, tricks against fellowmen, and acts of plunder. 

87 Dark as Erebus. The workings of his mind are slow 
and uninteresting, and his disposition is as gloomy as Erebus. 

87 Erebus. The name given to the dark space beneath 
the earth, through which souls were supposed to pass on their 
way to Hades. 

91 Naughty. Wicked. 

94 Brightly as. As brightly as. 

96 Empties itself. He loses his position, and his bril- 
liance seems to be swallowed up in his master's. 

97 Main of waters. Ocean. 

98 Music. That is, band. 

99 Without respect. Without considering or comparing 
with other things. Just as the candle's light seems strong 
when seen alone, but feeble when the moon is shining, so the 
music in the calmness of the night sounds sweeter than it 
would if heard by day. 

103 Attended. Listened to attentively. 
107 By season. How many things act agreeably on our 
senses, so that we can esteem them aright and see their true 



148 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

excellence, because they come at a fitting time — there is a 
pun on season. 

109 Peace, ho! Portia raises her voice, and Lorenzo and 
Jessica start up from their seat on the bank. 

109 The moon sleeps with Endymion. Endymion was 
a youth of such beauty that the moon goddess, who cared 
for no one else, fell in love with him, and sent him into a 
deep sleep so that she might lie by his side and kiss him with- 
out his knowledge. 

no Would not be awaked. The moon was now hidden 
behind a cloud. So Diana was represented as sleeping with 
Endymion, not wishing to be awaked until morning. 

no Would not. Wished not. 

1 1 5 Speed. Prosper. 

120 No note. No notice, make no remark. 

121 Tucket. Set of notes on the trumpet. (Italian, 
toccata.) 

127 Hold day. We should have daylight at the same 
time as the people on the other side of the world, if you would 
walk in our night-time when the sun has gone to them. 
Bassanio greets his wife with a pretty compliment. 

129 Light. There is a pun here. 

130 A light wife. Frivolous in conduct. 
130 Heavy. Sad; another pun. 

132 God sort all! May God dispose, arrange, all things. 

136 In all sense. In all reason, or in every respect. 

141 / scant. I cut short this courtesy which consists in 
words only. 

148 Posy. The motto cut on the ring. So called be- 
cause such mottoes were often in verse; it is the same word 
as poesy. 

150 Leave me not. Do not part with me. Another 
such motto is, "Cut and come again." 

151 What. Why; an exclamation of impatience. 

155 Not for me, yet for, etc. You should have been re- 
gardful, if not of me, yet of your strongly expressed oaths. 

158 Clerk will ne'er wear. Nerissa means that he gave 
it to a lady — as of course he unknowingly did. 

162 Scrubbed. Short, stumpy. We now use scrub in the 
same sense. So shrub is a short tree, scrub is short brush- 
wood. (Old English, scrob). 

164 Prating. Talkative. 

167 So slightly. On so slight a plea, after such little 
pressing. 



NOTES 149 

169 Riveted with faith. Fastened by a promise. 

172. Leave it. Lose it, part with it. 

173 For the wealth. For all the wealth that the whole 
world is master of, possesses. 

182 That took some pains. This is Gratiano's reason 
for giving the ring. As the judge (Portia) had deserved 
Bassanio's ring by what he had done for Antonio, so, Grati- 
ano thought, the clerk (Nerissa) had deserved his ring by 
the pains he took in writing the deed or the record of the 
judgment. No doubt Nerissa had to take pains to make 
her writing appear like a clerk's. 

189 Void. Empty. 

193 Gave the ring. Bassanio's repetition of the words, 
the ring, shows that he is playfully trying to appease his 
wife's wrath — as much as to say, what a lot of fuss about so 
small a thing! 

201 Or your own honor. If you considered how your 
honor was involved in keeping the ring safe. 

203 What man. No man in the world would have shown 
himself so wanting in all decency as to press his request for 
that which you regarded as something sacred, if you had 
cared to assert by arguments of real warmth your desire to 
retain possession of it. 

204 To have defended. To defend would be more cor- 
rect. 

205. With any terms of zeal. That is, earnestly, as if 
you meant it. 

210 Civil doctor. Doctor of civil law, that is, law made 
by men to govern their relations as citizens (Latin, civis, 
citizen); opposed to divine law, the laws of God. 

217 / was beset. I was troubled with a feeling of shame 
at seeming ungrateful in refusing so small a thing, and with 
a sense of what courtesy demanded of me. 

220 Candles of the night. The stars. 

225 Enforced wrong. Wrong I could not help doing. 

231 Of credit. Worthy of belief. To swear double is 
to swear falsely. Portia is ironical. 

234 Wealth. Well-being, welfare. 

235 Which. The loan of my body. 

236 Had miscarried. Would have been disastrous, 
ended in disaster. 

238 Advisedly. Deliberately. 

239 Surety. One who is bound for another. 
254 Richly. With rich cargoes. 



1 5 o THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

254 Suddenly. Unexpectedly. 
256 Dumb. With surprise and joy. 
267 Manna. The heaven-sent food on which the Is- 
raelites were fed in the wilderness of Arabia. See Exodus, 

XVI. 

269 You are not satisfied. You are not fully satisfied 
with my story of these events. 

271 Charge us there. "In the Court of Queen's Bench, 
when a complaint is made against a person for a ' contempt,' 
the practice is that before sentence is finally pronounced he 
is sent into the Crown Office, and being there 'charged 
upon interrogatories,' he is made to swear that he will 'an- 
swer all things faithfully.'" The familiarity with legal 
terms which Shakespeare shows has led some to think that 
he may have been in youth a lawyer's clerk. But he shows 
great familiarity with many things, such as seamanship, 
medicine, madness, soldiery; and he could not have been 
engaged in every profession. 



PASSAGES FOR SPECIAL STUDY 

Memorizing 

Act I, Scene I, lines 79-104 

Act I, lines 140-176 

Act I, Scene 3, lines 92-115 

Act II, Scene 8, lines 35-49 

Act III, Scene 1, lines 41-58 

Act III, Scene 2, lines 1-24 

Act III, Scene 2, lines 43-62 

Act III, Scene 2, lines 149-175 

Act III, Scene 4, lines 10-35 

Act IV, Scene 1, lines 35-61 

Act IV, Scene 1, line 180 to line 194 

Act V, Scene 1, to line 15 

Act V, Scene 1, from line 54 to line 66 

Act V, Scene 1, from line 83 to line 66 

Act V, Scene 1, from line 90 to line 98 

Act V, Scene 1, from line 90 to line 98 

Act V, Scene 1, from line 102 to line 109 

Figures of Speech 

Act I, Scene 1 

Act I, Scene 2 

Act I, Scene 3, from line 55 to close 

Act II, Scene 6, to line 20 

Act II, Scene 7 

Act II, Scene 9 

Act III, Scene 2, from line 40 to line 187 

Act V, Scene 1 

151 



152 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

Imagery 

Act IV, Scene i 

Act V, Scene i, to line 25 

Character Study 

Act I, Scene 2 

Act I, Scene 3 

Act II, Scene 1 

Act II, Scene 7 

Act II, Scene 8 

Act II, Scene 9 

Act III, Scene 1 

Act III, Scene 2 to line 190 

Act III, Scene 3 to line 18 

Containing Special Difficulties 

Act I, Scene 1, lines 95-99 
Act I, Scene 2, lines 17, 18 
Act I, Scene 3, line 122 
Act II, Scene 2, lines 14, 15 
Act II, Scene 2, lines 144 
Act II, Scene 4, lines 35-37 
Act II, Scene 9, lines 46-49 
Act III, Scene 2, lines 182-184 
Act III, Scene 2, line 314 
Act III, Scene 3, lines 26-28 
Act IV, Scene 1, lines 49-51 
Act IV, Scene 1, lines 55-57 
Act IV, Scene 1, line 325 
Act V, Scene 1, lines 203-206 



FAMILIAR AND PROVERBIAL 
EXPRESSIONS 

i. A Daniel come to judgment, Act IV, Scene i, 
line 219. 

2. a harmless necessary cat, Act IV, Scene 1, 

line 54. 

3. an infinite deal of nothing, Act I, Scene 1, 

line 114. 

4. All that glitters is not gold, Act II, Scene 7, 

line 65. 

5. Fast bind, fast find, Act II, Scene 5, line 53. 

6. God made him, and therefore let him pass for 

man, Act I, Scene 2, line 47. 

7. Hanging and wiving goes by destiny, Act II, 

Scene 9, line 83. 

8. I am Sir Oracle, 

And when I ope my lips let no dog bark. 
Act I, Scene 1, line 93. 

9. It is a good divine that follows his own instruc- 

tions, Act I, Scene 2, line 13. 

10. Like one well studied in a sad ostent 
To please his grandam. Act II, Scene 

2, line 179. 

11. love is blind, Act II, Scene 6, line 36. 

12. Nature hath framed strange fellows in her 

time, Act I, Scene I, line 51. 

13. suff ranee is the badge of all our tribe, Act I, 

Scene 3, line 69. 

153 



i 5 4 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 

14. The devil can cite scripture for his purpose, 

Act I, Scene 3, line 84. 

15. The man that hath no music in himself, 
Nor is not moved with concord of sweet 

sounds, 
Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils. 
Act V, Scene 1, line 83. 

16. What damned error, but some sober brow 
Will bless it and approve it with a text! 

Act III, Scene 2, line 78. 

17. with bated breath and whispering humbleness, 

Act I, Scene 3, line no. 

18. worth a Jewess' eye, Act II, Scene 5, line 41. 



J IRVING. History of New York. Vol. I. 

2J History of New York. Vol. II. 

4> Sketch Book. Part I. jjm i 

4> Sketch Book. Part II. 

J Tales of a Traveller. Parts I. and II. 

>|\ Tales of a Traveller. Parts III. and IV. 

/j\ JOHNSON. Rasselas, the Prince of Abyssinia. •J-'.fe, 

& Lives of the Poets. $A 

J^ Addison, Savage, Swift. 

j|\ Gay, Thompson, Young, Gray, etc L 

& Waller, Milton, Cowley. 

T Prior, Congreve, Blackmore, Pope. 

/jv Butler, Denham, Dryden, Roscommon, 

it etc * ''$"' 

jj LONGFELLOW. Hiawatha. 

$ Evangeline. 

/(> Courtship of Miles Standish. 

<l> Tales of a Wayside Inn. 

A> LOWELL. Vision of Sir Launfal. 

d> LAMB. Essays of Elia. 

Tales from Shakespeare. Vol. I. 
Tales from Shakespeare. Vol. II. 

§MACAULAY. Life of Johnson. 
Life of Goldsmith. 
2£ Essay on Milton. 

/}> Essay on Addison. 

$ Francis Bacon. 

g Warren Hastings. IM 

fa Lays of Ancient Rome. 

/<\ MULOCK. Little Lame Prince. 

X MILTON. Paradise Lost. Books I. and II. EU 

$ Minor Poems. ^ 

$ MITCHELL. Reveries of a Bachelor. « 

* PLUTARCH'S LIVES. 

JJ Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar. ^ 

/ji, Pericles, Cicero, etc. a 

jj Alcibiades and Coriolanus, Aristides, etc. w 

Jj; Agesilaus, Pompey and Phocion. 

$ POE. Raven and Other Poems. W 

& Tales. $ 



Rape or the Look. 

Translation of thb Iliad. 

Poems. i 

Essay on Man. 
KIN. King of the Golden Rive*. 

Sesame and Lilies. j 

IAKESPEARE. Macbeth. 

Merchant of Venice. j 

Twelfth Night. \ 

■ Henry VIII. 

The Tempest. \ 

Midsummer Night's Dream. 

As You Like It. 
3H Julius Caesar. 

Hamlet. 
H King John. 

King Richard II. 

Coriolanus. 

§King Henry V. 
King Lear. 
Cymbeline. 
King Richard III. 
Othello. 
a- Romeo and Juliet. 
THEY. Life of Nelson. 
ELL. Black Beauty. 

TT. Marmion. 
^ ^___S Lay of the Last Minstrel. 
|H Lady of the Lake. 

STEELE. Isaac Bickerstaff, Physician and Astrologer. 

SWIFT. Gulliver's Travels. Voyage to Lilliput. 
Gulliver Among the Giants. 

4 SPENSER. The Faery Queene. Book I., Vol. I. 
& The Faery Queene. Book I., Vol. II. 

TENNYSON. The Princess. 
> Idylls of the King. I. 

& Idylls of the King. II. 

/fi Enoch Arden. 

J WHITE. Natural History of Selborne. L 
a Natural History of Selborne. II. 



WEBSTER. Bunker Hill Orations. 







LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 






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us 




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